South Africa’s (SA) Border Management Authority (BMA) has dismissed allegations that immigration officers at the Lebombo Border Post in Komatipoort, Mpumalanga province, are accepting bribes from travellers.

Some travellers have claimed they are required to pay up to R150 ($8.90) to receive preferential processing, alleging that those who refuse to pay are forced to wait several hours. The claims have circulated amid increased congestion at one of the country’s busiest land border crossings.

BMA Commissioner Mike Masiapato rejected the accusations, saying there was no evidence of systemic corruption at the border post. He said, however, that some travellers attempt to bribe officials in order to bypass queues.

Masiapato said officers deployed at Lebombo are equipped with body-worn cameras, allowing activities and interactions with travellers to be monitored in real time from a control room. He stressed that any official found accepting a bribe would face decisive disciplinary action.

The commissioner also warned that offering a bribe is a criminal offence and said the BMA would not hesitate to act against either officials or members of the public involved in such conduct.

Lebombo Border Post links SA and Mozambique and experiences heavy traffic, particularly during peak travel periods.

–ChannelAfrica–