BMA to continue using drones as part of festive season plans

The Border Management Authority (BMA) says it will continue using drones and body cams to increase security and surveillance as part of its festive season operational plan.

Security efforts by the border authority will be bolstered by the national joint operational and intelligence structures across all 71 ports of entry on land, sea and international airports.

Commissioner Michael Masiapato said BMA, which is operating at 25 percent capacity due to financial constraints, will need assistance from external partnerships.

Masiapato addressed the media in Pretoria on Sunday.

"They will be assisting us in the deployment of an integrated suite of advanced surveillance mobility and protective technologies and as such, drones and body cams will be fully operational to improve our detection capability."

The BMA also said stringent measures will be in place to prevent cross-border crimes as authorities ramp up security efforts for the festive season.

This includes ensuring all the paperwork is in place for single parents travelling with children.

Parents will be expected to produce an affidavit, a death certificate, or a court order authorising travel with a minor.

Masiapato said these measures come in light of the scourge of human trafficking.

He said in the second quarter of this year, the BMA intercepted 13 children across various ports of entry, five of which were unaccompanied.

The Department of Social Development has been roped in to assist.

"In cases where both parents are deceased, and the child is travelling with a relative or another adult, approval from the Director-General of the Department of Home Affairs must be obtained."