Cabinet has approved a comprehensive Borderline Infrastructure Improvement Plan to fortify security along South Africa’s 4,471-kilometre perimeter shared across six neighbouring nations.
Slated for implementation between this year and 2030, the strategic initiative encompasses high-security fencing, critical road upgrades, advanced technological deployment, and specialised control centres operated via strategic sector partnerships. National Treasury is currently finalising the project’s funding model following Cabinet’s endorsement of the proposal.
Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi outlined the infrastructure push on Tuesday during an interministerial briefing detailing the state’s overarching five-point immigration strategy.
The heightened focus on border security coincides with growing public debate over immigration. Amid persistent unemployment, sluggish economic growth, and pressure on public infrastructure, public outcry over illegal immigration has intensified across several cities.
Kubayi said a funding model for the border project is being finalised by National Treasury following Cabinet’s approval of a memorandum on the proposed Borderline Infrastructure Improvement Plan.
More than 4,200 undocumented foreign nationals were intercepted while attempting to enter South Africa outside formal ports of entry between April and July 2026, according to government figures. Almost 90,000 foreign nationals were processed for deportation and repatriation between June and August.
Most of those intercepted were found along the northern corridor bordering Zimbabwe, followed by areas bordering Lesotho and Mozambique.
“Over time, border security infrastructure has deteriorated significantly, with large sections of fencing damaged, vandalised or absent, and critical access roads in poor condition. This has negatively affected border safeguarding operations, limiting patrol mobility, delaying response times, increasing strain on personnel and equipment, and creating vulnerabilities that are exploited through unlawful crossings, smuggling and transnational crime,” Kubayi said.
The plan follows the launch of the Electronic Travel Authorisation and the upgraded Enhanced Movement Control System at OR Tambo International Airport on August 12.
Kubayi said migration-related enforcement operations had intensified. These operations target unlawful border crossings, fraudulent documentation, labour exploitation, human-trafficking networks, illegal mining and other forms of organised crime linked to migration vulnerabilities.
Government figures show that 205 immigration-related cases were registered, 354 people were arrested and 123 cases were placed on the court roll. The date attached to these figures should be confirmed by the relevant department before publication.
“We are also pleased to announce that to date we have conducted more than 350,000 inspections across all industries and sectors. Among these are factories, supermarkets, spaza shops, many of whom were found to be non-compliant with labour and health-related standards and legal prescripts, especially the employment of illegal immigrants. We are continuing with this important work and once again would like to warn employers to respect the laws of the country and desist from deliberately employing illegal immigrants in their firms and factories,” she said.
She said no major concerns had been reported with the Customs Online Traveller Declaration system, which began operating on 1 July. Travellers are expected to make declarations before arriving at or departing from a port of entry.
Scanners are operational at major land ports, airports and seaports.
The Border Management Authority operates five drones at critical border points: Lebombo, Maseru, Oshoek, Beitbridge and KwaZulu-Natal. A procurement process for nine additional drones is under way.
About 40 body-worn cameras are also being deployed at critical ports of entry to improve operational visibility and help combat corruption, Kubayi said.
She said diplomatic and operational engagement with neighbouring countries and regional structures had been intensified to improve migration management and border security.
“In this regard, the Border Management Authority has signed joint action plans with Lesotho, Mozambique and Eswatini aimed at reducing undocumented migration through coordinated operations and information sharing. These structures meet regularly to monitor implementation and address emerging challenges,” she said.
ntsikelelo.qoyo@nationalmg.co.za