Drones Boost South Africa’s Border Security This Festive Season

South Africa’s border security saw major improvements this festive season with the use of drone technology at key ports of entry. The initiative, part of the Border Management Authority’s (BMA) operations, aimed to curb illegal border crossings and enhance law enforcement.

Home Affairs Minister Dr. Leon Schreiber reported that drones were successfully deployed at five major ports on a pilot basis, yielding immediate and visible results. The use of drones and body cameras has shown the effectiveness of digital tools in securing borders.

“This is the time for the BMA to permanently adopt these technologies as we move to digitize South Africa’s border management system, including automating entry and exit procedures,” said Schreiber.

The BMA’s efforts led to a 215% increase in preventing illegal border crossings. In 2023/24, 15,924 undocumented people were intercepted trying to enter the country illegally. This number surged to 50,312 in 2024/25. Additionally, 6,159 people were found to be overstaying their visas, and 1,923 were denied entry due to fraudulent documentation.

Collaboration between the BMA, South African Police Service (SAPS), and other agencies resulted in 322 arrests, including 132 criminals, and the seizure of R690 million worth of illegal cigarettes. Drones were deployed at Beitbridge, Maseru Bridge, Lebombo, Kopfontein, and Oshoek, with 42 pilots operating the devices. The drones detected 2,188 additional illegal attempts to enter the country and helped seal 2,326 breaches in the border fence.

The BMA also increased human resources and extended operating hours at some ports of entry. During the festive season, the BMA managed the movement of over 5 million travelers across the country’s 71 ports, including land, air, and sea borders.