Operating hours extended at ports of entry during Easter

Thursday, April 6, 2017

Pretoria – Newly appointed Home Affairs Minister Hlengiwe Mkhize on Thursday announced that the department will be extending operating hours at selected ports of entry during the Easter weekend from 11 to 19 April 2017.

The Minister also announced that an additional 200 Home Affairs’ officials will be deployed at various ports of entry during the Easter weekend.

Addressing the media at the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, Minister Mkhize said the deployment of officials at the various ports of entry will include senior managers who will enhance service delivery.

“Our immigration services have paid closer attention to those critical ports of entry processing very high numbers of travellers, especially at this time of the year. We trust that extending hours will go a long way in minimising burdensome queues, delays and inconveniences to travellers.

“Easter is one of the peak periods characterized by massive increases in traveller movements. Over the last four years, there has been a steady increase in traveller movement.

“An analysis of all movement for March and April 2012-2016, shows an increase from around 5.7 million recorded movements of citizens and foreigners in 2012, to over 7 million in 2016. Higher numbers are those of foreigners,” the Minister said.

Top 10 ports of entry by volume of arrivals and departures are -- OR International Airport, Beit Bridge, Lebombo, Maseru Bridge, Ficksburg, Oshoek, Cape Town International Airport, Kopfontein, Ramatlabama and Golela Port of Entry.

Minister Mkhize said with increasing traveller volumes over the Easter period, it is imperative that staff, as well as border ports, are well-prepared to facilitate traveller movement and to mitigate transgressions.  

“Security dynamics and risks in peak periods include the spectre of undocumented travellers, fraudulent documents, illegal stamping of travel documents and dealing with challenges relating to personnel integrity,” the Minister said.

Extended operational hours during the Easter period 2017 (10-19 April 2017) are as follows:

Mpumalanga

  • Lebombo Port of Entry’s current hours of 06:00 – 00:00 will be extended by 24 hours from 12 – 19 April
  • Mananga Port of Entry’s current hours of 07:00 - 18:00 will be extended to 07:00 - 20:00 from 12-18 April 2017
  • Jeppes Reef Port of Entry’s current hours of 07:00 - 20:00 will be extended to 07:00 - 22:00 from 13-17 April 2017
  • Oshoek Port of Entry’s current hours of 06:00 - 00:00 will be extended by 24 hours from 13-17 April 2017
  • Mahamba Port of Entry’s current hours of 07:00 - 22:00 will be extended to 07:00 - 00:00 from 13 April 2017

Eastern Cape

  • Qacha’s Nek Port of Entry’s current hours of 07:00 - 20:00 will be extended to 06:00 - 22:00 from 11-12 April 2017
  • Qacha’s Nek Port of Entry’s current hours of 07:00 - 20:00 will be extended to 06:00 - 20:00 from 13 April 2017

KwaZulu-Natal  

  • Kosi Bay Port of Entry’s current hours of 08:00 - 17:00 will be extended to 07:00 - 18:00 from 13-19 April 2017

Free State

  • Monontsha Pass Port of Entry’s current hours of 06:00 - 18:00 will be extended to 07:00 - 18:00 from 10-13 April 2017
  • Caledonspoort Port of Entry’s current hours of 06:00 - 22:00 will be extended to 06:00 - 00:00 from 13 April 2017

Limpopo  

  • Groblersbridge Port of Entry’s current hours of 06:00 - 22:00 will be extended by 24 hours from 14 April 2017
  • Groblersbridge Port of Entry’s current hours of 06:00 - 22:00 will be extended to 06:00 - 00:00 from 16 April 2017
  • Groblersbridge Port of Entry’s current hours of 06:00 - 22:00 will be extended to 22:00 - 00:00 from 17 April 2017

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