During the 2026 Easter period, South Africa witnessed an impressive spike in cross-border travel, with over 1.2 million individuals journeying through the nation’s ports of entry.
In a media briefing held in Pretoria on Sunday, Commissioner of the Border Management Authority (BMA), Michael Masiapato, reported that the country processed a total of 1 278 344 travellers over a 10-day operation period from 31 March to 9 April 2026, reflecting a remarkable 21% increase compared to the previous year.
The Easter period traditionally poses a significant operational challenge for border management, combining various forms of travel such as religious observances, holidays, and family gatherings into a compact timeframe.
Masiapato stated, ‘This period continues to demand heightened vigilance, seamless coordination, and agile resource deployment to balance border security and facilitate the movement of people and goods,’
Aligning with past years, the BMA maintained a consistent operational window, thus enabling effective comparative analysis of travel statistics.
The operational command and control was managed adeptly by multiple stakeholders, including the Inter-Ministerial Consultative Committee on Border Management, chaired by Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber.
The data highlighted that OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) surfaced as the primary gateway, accommodating 234 389 travellers, which correlates to a 6% increase from the 2025 figures.
Other notable ports included Lebombo, facilitating about 195 293 movements, and Beit Bridge, with 148 451 travellers, both recording a 21% rise in activity. Ficksburg to Lesotho saw the most significant surge at 57%, processing 113 942 entries.
A series of thorough inspections complemented the travel facilitation, with the BMA processing 31 588 light vehicles, inspecting almost 9,000 commercial trucks, and engaging in robust scrutiny of other transport modes, including buses and taxis.
This year also saw a strict enforcement of the Immigration Act, resulting in 2 509 fines issued, which marked a staggering 192% increase from the previous year.
Despite the increased movement, the BMA reported a decrease in intercepted illegal travellers. A total of 4 763 individuals were apprehended, down from 6 253 in 2025, thanks to enhanced enforcement measures such as the deployment of drones and improved tracking technologies.
Health security remained a top priority, with BMA teams actively screening 72 717 travellers and disinfecting numerous flights to mitigate potential health risks.
On the agricultural front, over 20,000 kilograms of non-compliant agricultural products were confiscated and destroyed, exemplifying the BMA’s commitment to environmental bio-security.
In combatting corruption, the BMA reiterated its zero-tolerance policy, calling on public support for reporting suspicious activities. It pledged to build on the accomplishments from this Easter operation to bolster future peak-period preparations.
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Picture: Lefty Shivambu / Gallo Images
Source: Border Management Authority
