South Africa man arrested for facilitating illegal entry of migrants for R300

Tuesday, April 22, 2025 - A South African man has been arrested at the Beitbridge border post for allegedly facilitating the illegal entry of undocumented migrants into the country in exchange for R300. 

The Border Management Authority (BMA) confirmed on Monday, April 21, that the suspect was apprehended after being detected by drone surveillance while attempting to exit a patrol zone in Musina, Limpopo, with two undocumented individuals.

According to officials, the man operated from a makeshift carport located approximately 500 metres from the official port of entry. Another suspected facilitator, who fled the scene, was captured on surveillance footage exchanging cash with a migrant through a red gate. The incident highlights the ongoing efforts by the BMA to crack down on border facilitators who aid illegal migration.

BMA Commissioner Michael Masiapato said the authority has intensified operations aimed at identifying and arresting individuals responsible for orchestrating these border crossings. Facilitators typically charge undocumented migrants between R300 and R350 to assist them in crossing the border illegally. Unlike the migrants, who are often deported, facilitators are taken to the Musina police station and charged with aiding and abetting.

Masiapato emphasized that the real challenge lies in apprehending those who organise these crossings, rather than just intercepting the migrants themselves. He cited a recent operation at the Lebombo border post in Komatipoort, Mpumalanga, where officials allowed a group of undocumented migrants to cross into South Africa in order to track and eventually arrest the facilitator and a taxi driver who met them inside the country.

The arrest at Beitbridge coincided with officials monitoring a makeshift boat carrying passengers across the Limpopo River, a method frequently used by illegal migrants in the area. Masiapato said the BMA destroys such boats regularly, but they are often rebuilt. He explained that the BMA can only act once individuals are on the South African side of the river.

Drone surveillance footage viewed by journalists showed two people escorting a group of 15 migrants to the South African riverbank, after which the group dispersed. Border guards managed to intercept some of the individuals who were reportedly en route to meet another facilitator. Those caught are currently being processed for deportation.

Since the lead-up to the Easter holidays, approximately 1,000 undocumented migrants have been arrested and deported. The BMA processed around 89,000 individuals at the border in the past week alone, with operations continuing as travellers return from holiday.

Drone operator Thato Motloung described the aerial technology as vital to the operation, providing features such as obstacle and movement detection, which help identify hidden individuals in areas like under trucks or in rivers. He noted that it was through drone surveillance that a body of a person reportedly eaten by a crocodile was recently discovered in the Limpopo River.

Lea Petersen, a business enablement projects coordinator for the Armaments Corporation of South Africa, praised the effectiveness of the technology. She said the use of artificial intelligence-driven drones has enabled the BMA to carry out precise arrests and targeted enforcement, leading to improved public behaviour and more effective border management.