A report published on Sunday, April 12, 2026, shows that South Africa recorded a significant decline in illegal border crossings during the Easter period, following intensified enforcement measures.
According to the Border Management Authority (BMA), 4,763 individuals were caught attempting to enter or leave the country illegally, down from 6,253 in the 2025 Easter period – a 24% decrease.
BMA Commissioner Michael Masciapato attributed the decline to increased operations, including the deployment of drones, increased patrolling and dismantling of illegal crossing infrastructure on key routes such as the Limpopo and Caledon rivers.
Of those apprehended, 3,170 were undocumented migrants, while others were classified as undesirable or inadmissible due to fraudulent or invalid travel documents. All undocumented individuals were processed, declared undesirable for five years and deported in accordance with immigration laws.
Authorities also stepped up a crackdown against organized migration networks and arrested 138 facilitators, representing a 22% increase from the previous year. Additionally, law enforcement conducted 42 joint operations, conducted thousands of patrols and seized drugs and stolen vehicles at various ports of entry.
Officials say the results reflect the increased effectiveness of coordinated border management and technology-driven enforcement in securing national borders.