The Border Management Authority (BMA) has rejected claims that deportees temporarily housed in Eswatini are entering South Africa through informal border crossings.
The authority said South Africa’s land Ports of Entry with Eswatini were secured and that access control measures were in place at designated entry and exit points.
This comes after the Eswatini government said three third-country nationals who had arrived in the kingdom under an existing bilateral arrangement with the United States had voluntarily left the country and returned to their respective countries of origin.
Eswatini says three nationals left voluntarily
The three nationals, from Yemen, Belize and Laos, left Eswatini at different times between September 8 and October 4.
The Yemeni national left on September 8 after requesting to return to his country of origin, while the Belizean national left on September 30 after requesting to return home.
The Laotian national left on October 4 after also requesting voluntary repatriation.
Eswatini Acting Government Spokesperson Thabile Mdluli said the departures formed part of ongoing arrangements involving third-country nationals temporarily residing in the kingdom.
“These departures form part of the ongoing arrangements concerning Third Country Nationals temporarily residing in the Kingdom,” Mdluli said.
The government said it had continued engaging relevant authorities and partners to facilitate voluntary repatriation requests and thanked countries and authorities that assisted with the nationals’ journeys home.
It said their cooperation had contributed to the “smooth and orderly facilitation” of the journeys.
Eswatini also said it remained committed to protecting the rights, dignity and well-being of the third-country nationals while safeguarding the security and interests of the kingdom and its people.
BMA says borders remain secured
The BMA said it had noted claims that deportees were entering South Africa through informal crossings and rejected the allegations.
“The BMA dismisses claims that deportees are entering South Africa through informal border crossings,” it said.
The authority said it was supported by other law enforcement authorities in maintaining a presence across the country’s Ports of Entry.
It said border surveillance and enforcement operations were continuing to prevent and detect unlawful entry, including the smuggling and trafficking of people.
“The BMA supported by other law enforcement authorities maintains a presence across the country’s Ports of Entry and continues to conduct border surveillance and enforcement operations to prevent and detect unlawful entry, including the smuggling and trafficking of persons,” it said.
The BMA also clarified that people travelling through South African airports in transit do not enter the Republic while undergoing international transfers.
“It is imperative to understand that any person who is in transit through South African Airports go through international transfers without entering the Republic,” it said.
The authority warned that attempts to bypass formal Ports of Entry would be subject to detection and enforcement action.
“Therefore, any attempt to circumvent formal Ports of Entry is subject to detection and enforcement action,” the BMA said.
