Holidaymakers who will be travelling with minors overseas this festive season are reminded to carry unabridged birth certificates unless the child’s details are endorsed in the parent’s passport.
“In cases where one parent is traveling with a child in the absence of another parent, a consent letter from the absent parent granting permission to the other parent to exit the country with the child will be required,” said Border Management Authority (BMA) Commissioner, Dr Michael Masiapato.
Masiapato explained that this requirement is mainly applicable to South Africans intending to exit the country with children, which forms part of the country’s fight against human trafficking.
“Considering the expected high volumes in this festive period, we would like to appeal to all travellers to plan their travel early and exercise patience on the roads towards ports,” he said.
The Commissioner was speaking during a media briefing on Monday where he unveiled the agency’s festive season plans covering December 2024 and January 2025, aimed at managing increased border activities.
He also urged those who will be leaving or entering South Africa to ensure that all their travel documents are in order – to avoid any unnecessary delays at the ports of entry.
As required by international protocols, Masiapato said all travellers should have a valid machine-readable passport and a valid visa where applicable.
In addition, passports should have at least one empty page to enable the BMA immigration team members to stamp the passports as required.
“This message is also relevant during the return leg in January 2025 as all travellers are expected to present themselves at the designated ports of entry to enter South Africa.
“As for those wishing to cross the border using a financed vehicle, they should have the letter from their financing institution authorising them to exit the country with the vehicle.”
South Africa faces complex border-related challenges, including illegal immigration, cross-border crimes, and smuggling of illicit goods.
READ | BMA outlines plans to secure SA’s ports of entry this festive season
Interventions
Key interventions by the BMA this festive season include extending operating hours at major ports of entry over the festive season, deploying 69 additional personnel, and collaborating with Interpol and local law enforcement authorities.
On port health matters, the Commissioner stated that all visitors must expect to be screened on their arrival at the ports of entry.
“This is meant to avoid any unintentional importation of any communicable or infectious diseases into the country.”
Yellow fever and malaria
Meanwhile, travellers arriving from yellow fever endemic areas are required to have valid yellow fever certificates.
According to the BMA, these requirements also apply to those who will be in transit for more than 12 hours in local airports.
“For the outgoing travellers, it is always important to check with the relevant consulate or embassy of the country you visiting to ensure familiarity with the travel requirements of the country you are visiting.”
He also noted that some parts of Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal are endemic for malaria.
“Therefore, to prevent and minimise mosquito bites, travellers are advised to use insect repellents, bed nets, and wear long-sleeved clothes and socks, especially after sunset.”
Therefore, holidaymakers, are urged to use antimalaria medicine such as chemoprophylaxis where prescribed.
“As the BMA, we would like to urge travellers presenting signs of illness to present themselves or report to the BMA port health clinic on arrival at the port of entry, or else they can visit their nearest health facilities or their private doctors for consultation.”
Mpox
He also touched on the mpox disease with the risk classification for South Africa currently being moderate.
“However, travellers should avoid close contact with individuals who exhibit symptoms of mpox, such as skin lesions or muscle aches.”
Declarations
In addition, he stated that those wishing to carry health-related goods such as food, medicine, hazardous substances, and/or cosmetics are advised to ensure that they make the necessary declarations at the customs counter at the port of entry.
“As for travellers transporting human remains, including ashes, they must be in possession of the requisite import or export permits issued by the National Department of Health to be processed.”
Illegal migration
In addressing the scourge of illegal migration, the Commissioner said the BMA has managed to intercept and block about 410 000 people attempting to enter the country illegally since the deployment of the first cohorts of the border guards in July 2022.
“The majority got arrested, fingerprinted, declared undesirable for five years, and deported.”
The BMA facilitates the legitimate movement of people and goods through 71 ports of entry, including 52 land ports, 10 international airports, and nine seaports.
The agency also detected about 312 high-value vehicles that were meant to illegally exit the country to other jurisdictions in the continent. – SAnews.gov.za
