President Cyril Ramaphosa formally launched the BMA in April 2023 to unify border law enforcement under a single command structure.

Speaking on Wednesday at the Lebombo Border Post between SAand Mozambique, Masiapato said the improvements were evident as the authority ramps up operations for the Easter holiday period.

“On a normal day, we are averaging around 16 000 people crossing at this port,” Masiapato said. “Many of these are travellers moving between Komatipoort and Mozambique for shopping and short visits. As we approach Easter, we are expecting daily volumes of between 25 000 and 30 000 people.”

He confirmed that Friday is expected to be the peak day, with the majority of outbound travel taking place ahead of the long weekend. “It is all systems go. We are ready and have deployed additional personnel to manage the expected increase,” he said.

The Lebombo Border Post is one of SA’s busiest land crossings and plays a critical role in regional trade, tourism and labour mobility.

Meanwhile, travellers passing through the border have shared mixed experiences about the efficiency of clearance processes, as traffic volumes continue to rise.

Some praised the system for being fast and well‑managed. “The process of the border was okay. There was no problem. It was fast,” one traveller said.

Others were less satisfied, citing long waiting times and alleged inconsistencies. “It’s not good. We take a very long time. When you have money, you go faster. When you don’t, you wait,” another traveller claimed.

A third traveller said their experience had been smooth. “I’m going to Rustenburg, and everything is fine on my side,” they said. More than 16 000 travellers were processed at Lebombo on Wednesday alone.

The BMA says it will continue monitoring operations closely throughout the Easter period and has urged travellers to expect delays during peak hours while assuring them that measures are in place to improve flow and security.

–SABC/ChannelAfrica–