Pretoria – The Department of Home Affairs says more officials will be stationed at the country’s ports of entry during the festive season.
This, according the department’s Director General Mkhuseli Apleni, is to ensure smooth movement at the ports and to avoid delays at border posts.
Addressing the media in Pretoria today, Apleni said: “We stand ready to help facilitate the smooth movement of all those travelling through these ports of entry during the festive season.”
To avoid delays, the department has announced an extension of working hours at the ports of entry.
Apleni said the decision to extend working hours was taken after consultations with all stakeholders working at the ports of entry, including in the countries that share borders with South Africa.
During the festive season, high volumes of people are recorded at the borders.
The department will increase its human resource capacity at six key land ports of entry including Beitbridge, Lebombo, Ficksburg, Maseru, Oshoek and Kopfontein, as well as all airports.
With regard to the forthcoming Orange African Nations Championship, CHAN 2014, Apleni said the department was ready for the influx of soccer fans, who will descend on the country early next year.
“The department is ready to play its role in ensuring that South Africa hosts a successful CHAN 2014.
“Having played a pivotal role during the 2014 FIFA World Cup as well as the 2012 African Cup of Nations, our immigration officials stand ready to welcome fellow African and other visitors at our ports of entry,” he said.
The Orange African Nations Championship tournament will take place between 11 January and 1 February 2014 in South Africa.
Originally, the tournament was to be hosted in Libya. – SAnews.gov.za
