Pretoria - It was a busy festive season at South Africa's ports of entry with more than 3.5 million travellers entering and leaving the country.
This was an increase of 14 percent in traveller movement compared to the same period 2009, Deputy Home Affairs Minister Fatima Chohan said.
According to the country's Movement Control System (MCS), 3 503 416 traveller movements into and out of South Africa were recorded from 1 to 30 December 2010.
For the same period in 2009, 3 078 026 movements were recorded.
"Traveller volumes from 1 to 30 December 2010 at Maseru Bridge increased from 191 444 to 356 140 (86%), Ficksburg Bridge increased from 194 850 to 345 527 (77%), and Lebombo from 331 509 to 362 751 (19%)." Chohan added.
It was particularly busy ahead of the New Year with 110 254 traveller movements recorded on 30 December 2010.
This included 21 902 South Africans returning to the country and 18 533 departing.
Foreign nationals who entered the country on 30 December totalled 35 729 while 34 090 left the country.
OR Tambo International Airport showed the highest volume to traveller movements on 30 December 2010, with a total of 21 883 people arriving and departing, followed by Beit Bridge where there was 16 611 traveller movements.
Chohan expressed her department and government's gratitude to the officials who facilitated the smooth movement of traveller at all the country's land, sea and air ports of entry.
