Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge Bureau
SOUTH Africa’s Border Management Authority has unveiled a raft of clearance processes to ensure a seamless and secure travel experience for millions of travellers at its ports of entry, including Beitbridge Border Post, during the festive period.
The country handles more than half a million travellers every December at its 71 ports of entry.
At the moment the volume of traffic remains normal at Beitbridge, which links South Africa to Zimbabwe, DRC, Angola, Malawi, Botswana, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia.
On the Zimbabwean side, the acting head of Immigration for the Southern region, which covers Beitbridge, Chiredzi, and Sango border posts, Mr Moses Mutepfe, said recently that the transformed border post and automation of services had contributed to improved efficiencies during both off-peak and peak periods.
He said that the separation of traffic into freight, buses, light vehicles, and pedestrians had enabled them to offer customised services and minimise delays in clearing travellers.
Mr Mutepfe added that on a normal day, they clear around 10 000 people across three terminals, with numbers peaking at nearly 18 000 during major public holidays.
In a statement, BMA spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Mmemme Mogotsi, said yesterday that the plan was unveiled by the authority’s Commissioner, Dr Micheal Masiapato, in Pretoria.
The plan has been endorsed by key structures including the Border Technical Committee.
The execution phase is set to start on December 10 and end on the 15th of January 2026.
This phase is divided into two legs, the exit (departure) leg starting from the 10th to the 31st of December 2025 and the entry (return) leg starting from the 1st to the 15th of January 2026.
“During the exit leg, the corridors leading to our land ports of entry will be fully monitored to ensure the effective management of traffic flow under the leadership of the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), the Cross Border Road Transport Agency (CBRTA), and the respective traffic authorities in the respective provinces,” said Asst Comm Mogotsi.
“The planning phase started on the 15th of September 2025 and will end on the 9th of December 2025. The planning phase is characterised by extensive consultative engagements with multiple stakeholders in the country operating in both public and private sectors,” said Asst Comm Mogotsi.
She said they will be deploying more resources to all the borders and that they were getting support from the provincial Governments across the nine provinces in that country.
“Further, the BMA achieved partnership with the South African Freight Forwarders Association, the Association of Meat Importers and Exporters, South African Association of Ship Operators and Agents to fund some of our operations through a cost recovery model,” added Asst Comm Mogotsi.
“Further, DCD Protected Mobility, Aselsan South Africa, and Unipro Protective Wear will be assisting us in the deployment of an integrated suite of advanced surveillance, mobility and protective technologies.
“As such, drones and body cams will be fully operational to improve our detection capability and also address possible corruption from our team members. At the same time, Sanlam/ASSUPOL will be assisting with the enhancement of health and the well-being of BMA officials during this period”.
