Beit Bridge: border control to be tightened

BORDER control between South Africa and other countries needs to be improved in the interest of safety.

This was according to transport, safety and liaison MEC Mapula Mokaba-Phukwana, who was referring to the illegal entering of foreigners to the country via the Beit Bridge border post.

Some 18 illegal immigrants were arrested at a roadblock near Musina on Friday. The roadblock was run entirely by women, in keeping with August being Women’s Month.

“There must be something bad going on at the border post, considering that these people passed through without proper documents, and some were even transporting goods without the proper documents,” she said.

She added that some illegal immigrants were also arrested some weeks ago for allegedly transporting explosives from Zimbabwe to South Africa.

”We have realised that many people from various African countries are using the Beit Bridge border post to get into South Africa illegally. We have to tighten security at this border post,” she said.

Speaking on behalf of provincial traffic, Kagiso Mootane said they had stopped and searched 781 vehicles and 110 summons were issued. Eleven drivers were charged with speeding and five warrants were issued for people who had failed to pay previous summons. “The operation was a success,” Mootane.