The Border Management Authority (BMA) has recorded a significant increase in cross-border travel during the 2026 Easter period, with more than 1.2 million travellers passing through South Africa’s ports of entry.
Speaking during a media briefing in Pretoria on Sunday, BMA Commissioner Michael Masiapato said a total of 1 278 344 travellers were processed across the country’s 71 ports of entry over the 10-day operation period from 31 March to 9 April 2026.
This represents a 21% increase compared to the 2025 Easter period, when just over 1 million travellers were recorded.
“The upward trend highlights the growing demand for cross-border travel during this period, as people travel for various reasons such as religious observances, holidays and or family gatherings,” Masiapato said.
Of the 1 278 344 travellers recorded during the period, OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) facilitated the highest volumes of travellers at 234 389, a 6% increase when compared to the 220 339 traveller movements recorded in 2025 Easter.
This was followed by Lebombo Border Post with 195 293 travellers and Beitbridge Border Post with 148 451.
Notably, Ficksburg Border Post recorded a sharp 57% increase in traveller volumes, while Maseru Bridge Border Post saw a 31% rise.
Cape Town International Airport (CTIA) also recorded growth, registering a 10% increase by facilitating 94 023 traveller movements, up from 85 631 facilitated during the 2025 Easter period.
In facilitating the above-mentioned movements, a total of 31 588 light vehicles were processed and thoroughly searched as part of the routine and risk-based inspections.
About 8 937 commercial trucks underwent intensive inspections to mitigate the risk of smuggling and the movement of illicit goods. A total of 1 286 buses were processed, with passengers accordingly screened.
Furthermore,10 523 taxis and 593 informal transport operators, commonly known as Malaishas, were inspected to ensure full compliance with cross-border movement protocols.
In support of load compliance, about 1 478 trucks were subjected to weighbridge inspections to verify load compliance and detect any potential smuggling activities.
Within the aviation modality, 61 flights were cleared by the BMA port health officials. In the maritime space, 76 vessels were officially cleared, of which 10 were processed through the off-port limit mechanism whereby crew changes were facilitated whilst the vessel is stationed at deep sea without having to dock at the port.
Masiapato said the Easter period remains one of the most demanding times in the border management calendar, requiring “heightened vigilance, seamless coordination and co-operation among stakeholders”.
“Importantly, the insights derived from this report will inform the future planning for such peak-periods, enhance stakeholder coordination and cooperation, whilst strengthening the Authority’s overall strategies for the successful implementation of effective, high-impact border movement cycles,” Masiapato said.
The 2026 Easter operation was executed for a period of 10 days commencing on Tuesday, the 31st of March 2026 and ending on Thursday, the 09th of April 2026. This year’s operation aligns with the previous years’ operation in that it maintains a consistent 10-day timeframe to enable reliable and sound comparative analysis on statistical trends.
Masipato explained that the 2026 Easter Operation was implemented as a direct continuation of the December 2025 and January 2026 Festive Season Operations.
“This transition ensured continuity in operational command and control, while reinforcing long term operational efficiency beyond periods of heightened movement,” he said.
The implementation of this plan was overseen by several structures, including members of the Inter-Ministerial Consultative Committee (IMCC) on Border Management, chaired by the Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber.
Fines and compliance enforcement
The Commissioner said that it was also worth mentioning that during this Easter period, a total of 2 509 fines were issued by various law enforcement entities operating within the border law enforcement areas, amounting to a combined value of R1 544 071.
Of the 2 509 fines issued, 111 were issued by the BMA officials for non-compliance with the immigration act and this amounted to about R138 000.00.
“This represents a 192% increase in the imposed fines compared to the 38 fines issued in the 2025 Easter period. This is a demonstration of the BMA’s intensified efforts to enforce compliance with the provisions of the immigration act,” Masiapato said.
On port health specialised function
Given the various health risks, BMA port health specialists remained on high alert across all ports of entry, implementing heightened health screening measures to prevent the potential spread of infectious diseases into South Africa.
In this regard, a total of 72 717 travellers were screened, and 259 flights were disinfected to limit the cross-border transmission of infectious vectors and to eliminate disease carrying insects, particularly on flights arriving from high-risk regions.
Furthermore, 53 mortal remains were processed by BMA Port Health teams through ports of entry, with Beitbridge Border Post accounting for the majority.
On Agricultural and Environmental Bio-Security specialised function
Biosecurity teams comprising K9 Units, inspectors, animal health Technicians and Veterinarians, enforced compliance within terminals and the border law enforcement area along the borderline.
More than 20 000 kg of non-compliant regulated agricultural products valued at approximately R 4 759 502 were confiscated and destroyed at various ports of entry. These include animal products, plant products, and several prohibited food items such as mangoes, bananas and other assorted fruits.
The most intercepted consignments during this Easter period were recorded at Cape Town Harbour, which are still under detention for further processing. The consignments compromised of foodstuffs and alcoholic beverages such as whisky. – SAnews.gov.za
