Longer Easter border hours

Operating hours at South Africa’s ports of entry will be extended to accommodate the anticipated influx of travellers ahead of Easter holidays.

Minister of Home Affairs Hlengiwe Mkhize said the new schedule would start on Monday and continue until April 17.

“These reinforcements will apply to 10 high-volume ports of entry,” she said yesterday. “Over the last four years, there has been a steady increase in traveller movement [over Easter].

“An analysis of all movement for March and April 2012-16 shows an increase from about 5.7 million recorded movements of citizens and foreigners in 2012, to over seven million in 2016.”

The higher numbers were atttributed to foreigners, added the new minister.

Mkhize said her department had put in place a security plan at South Africa’s 10 ports to combat corrupt activities such fraudulent documents and illegal stamping of travel documents.

The ports of entry include OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, Beit Bridge in Limpopo, Lebombo and Oshoek in Mpumalanga, Maseru Bridge and Ficksburg in the Free State, Cape Town International Airport, Kopfontein, Ramatlabama in the North West and Golela in KwaZulu-Natal.

“We trust that extending hours will go a long way in minimising burdensome queues, delays and inconveniences to travellers. At the end of the day, our aim is make travel as pleasant as possible. This is important for citizens and in the broader scheme of things, for promoting South Africa as a preferred travel destination.” – ANA

Over the last four years, there has been a steady increase in traveller movement over Easter.