Border officials are preparing for a very busy Easter as thousands of people travel across South Africa. The Border Management Authority (BMA) has a plan to make sure everyone moves safely through the country’s 71 borders and airports.
BMA boss Michael Masiapato said they want to keep things moving and stop crime. The main part of the plan starts on Tuesday, 31 March and runs until Thursday, 9 April.
Officials expect the busiest days will be 2 April when people leave and 6 April when they come back home. They think more than 25,000 people will use the busy borders every day.
To help with the big crowds, the BMA has brought in more workers. In Gauteng, 80 more immigration officers will work at OR Tambo International Airport. In the Western Cape, 50 officers have been sent to Cape Town International Airport.
Other people are also helping. Social workers will be at the borders to look after children and other people who might need help. More than 160 tourism safety officers will also be there to help the travellers.
Masiapato said they will use new technology this year. This includes drones and body cameras to watch the borders and stop workers from taking bribes.
People must have the right papers when they travel. This includes a valid passport and a visa. Parents must also have the right papers for their children.
Masiapato said the police will arrest anyone who tries to cross the border without following the law.
The BMA said they want to keep the country safe while making it easy for people to travel. They want to support tourism and trade during this busy time.
Pictured above: Border officials checking the documents of travellers at a busy South African border post during a holiday period.
