AMID an expected influx of visitors to the region over the festive season, operating hours have been extended at the Kosi Bay border.

The uMhlabuyalingana border, connecting South Africa to Mozambique, will operate from 6am to 8pm from 15 December to 15 January 2026.

This was revealed during a presentation on the Border Management Authority (BMA) on the festive season operational plan for 2025/2026.

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“We have agreed to adjust operating hours at some of the key ports which do not operate on a 24-hour basis,” said BMA Commissioner Michael Masiapato.

“Historically, the December and January festive periods remain characterised by a significant increase in traveller volume, which always places significant pressure on our ports of entry.”

During the 2023/24 festive period, 5 million travellers were processed at border posts, 78% foreign nationals, and 22% were South Africans.

In the 2024/25 festive period, of the 4.5 million travellers processed, 70% were foreign nationals, and 30% South Africans.

Masiapato said additional staff will be deployed to various border posts and security will be heightened during this period.

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“South Africa continues to confront a range of complex border-related challenges, including illegal migration, increasingly sophisticated cross-border criminal activities, and the smuggling of illicit goods.

“These challenges place a significant strain on our already limited resources, hinder economic growth, and undermine efforts toward deeper regional economic integration,” he said.

Travel requirements

The BMA has, however, warned travellers to ensure they have all the necessary documents in place before embarking on their journey.

“All travellers entering or departing South Africa should have a valid, machine-readable passport containing at least two completely unused pages, excluding the last page, which must always remain blank,” said Masiapato.
“Parents travelling with a child must produce the unabridged birth certificate of the child showing both parents’ details.

“If only one parent is travelling, an affidavit from the other parent authorising the travel, or a court order granting full parental rights, or a death certificate of the other parent would be required.

“Failure to produce the required documents would result in the child not being permitted to exit the country.”

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