Border Management Authority experiencing body camera shortage

Limited body camera capacity has emerged as a concern at South Africa’s ports of entry as authorities prepare for a surge in Easter holiday travel.

The Border Management Authority (BMA) said it currently has just 40 body cameras available for officials amid heightened operations and anti-corruption efforts.

This comes as the BMA expects traffic volumes to spike, with some of the busiest border posts projected to process more than 25,000 travellers a day.

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The authority has been stepping up security measures, including introducing new passport stamps with unique identifiers aimed at curbing fraud and holding officials accountable.

But the limited number of body cameras could pose a challenge in monitoring conduct, particularly during peak periods where the risk of corruption typically increases.

The BMA continues to roll out its Easter operational plan, with a focus on tightening border controls, improving processing times and ensuring safe movement across all 71 ports of entry.

BMA Commissioner Michael Masiapato said, “And on that basis, we have indicated we are around 75% short.”

The authority maintained that additional measures, including law enforcement support and technology, will help close any gaps during this high-pressure period.