Border staff to be increased for holidays

THE Department of Home Affairs will this week hit the ground running as it increases its capacity at the country’s ports of entry as part of its festive season campaign.

The campaign, which is set to run from December 4 to January 13, will see the department working with border law enforcement agencies at the country’s six borders.

“We want travellers to enter and leave South Africa without hindrance in this peak period, and to do so in a manner that is legally permissible, without breaking any law of our country,” Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said yesterday at a press briefing in Pretoria.

According to the department, “the ports of entry with traditionally high volumes of movement will have their operating hours increased by between one and seven hours. The Lebombo and Oshoek ports of entry will open for 24 hours on specified days.”

To ensure operations run smoothly, 400 additional officials will be deployed at selected ports to assist with delivery of immigration services and offer technical support at borders.

A majority of officials would be posted at the Beit Bridge with Zimbabwe and the Maseru Bridge and Ficksburg port of entry with Lesotho.

The police will add 80 members to the officers already deployed at border gates. Also, 86 extra customs officials will be placed at selected ports.

“We implore all travellers leaving and entering South Africa to ensure all their travel documents are in order. These include passports, visas, health certificates, permits for specified goods, plants and animals and vehicle insurance and bank authorised cross-border documents for vehicles,” Motsoaledi said.

He indicated that his department had started testing and piloting the electronic visa application system, e-Visa.

He explained that the decision to introduce it was due to the benefits associated with having the system.

“It is reliable, client-friendly and convenient for visa applicants, airlines, trading partners and Home Affairs officials. Once fully rolled out, prospective visitors will apply online for visas at home, office or place of work. It will lessen administrative burdens, including those involved in receiving applicants at visa offices, printing visa stickers and returning passports to applicants,” he said.

Currently, the department is testing the new system with Kenya.

The department said a team of Home Affairs immigration and IT officials had already visited Kenya and were scheduled to return there on December 9.