According to the Border Management Authority (BMA), the illegal crossings data highlights a long-standing migration pattern.
Briefing the media in Pretoria on Sunday, BMA commissioner Michael Masiapato revealed where most intercepted foreign nationals in the second quarter of the 2025 financial year (July to September) came from.
“The majority of the intercepted foreign nationals were Basotho, followed by Mozambicans, Zimbabweans and Swati nationals,” Masiapato said.
“This reflects a consistent and long-standing migration pattern within the sub-region.”
Masiapato said BMA immigration officers processed 9.28 million travellers in the second quarter – a 23% increase compared to the same period last year.
He linked the surge to tougher border enforcement and the expanded use of surveillance technology, including drones.
During this three-month period, the BMA made 8 135 apprehensions, including more than 4 000 undocumented travellers and nearly 2 000 people declared “undesirables.”
Since the first deployment of border guards in July 2022, officers have stopped more than half a million people from entering South Africa illegally.
Crime, contraband and health risks
Apart from illegal crossings, the BMA’s quarterly report also revealed the scale of illicit goods seized at the border.
Officers intercepted 1 700kg of counterfeit clothing and footwear (worth an estimated R1.2 million), bringing the total value of counterfeit goods intercepted since July 2022 to about R220 million.
Additional seizures at points/ ports of entry included:
- Half a kilogram of crystal meth
- 240 grams of heroin
- R827 500 worth of illicit cigarettes
- 40 fraudulent travel documents
- 5 000 units of illegal birth-control pills
- 117 medical test kits
- Banned skin-lightening creams
Interceptions during the quarter also included 15 suspected stolen vehicles.
“The incremental figure stands at about 349 vehicles since the deployment of the first contingent in July 2022,” Masiapato added.
Travellers screened, treated or turned away by BMA
Port health operations also screened 172 858 travellers, with 73 refused entry for failing to present valid yellow fever vaccination certificates.
Malaria screening remained a priority, with 969 travellers tested and 57 confirmed positive before being sent for treatment.
The BMA also processed nearly 1 000 mortal remains, while 25 were turned back due to incomplete documentation.
