Public Service and Administration Minister, Noxolo Kiviet and her Deputy, Dr Chana Pilane-Majake have visited the Lebombo port of entry as part of a service delivery outreach engagement.
“The purpose of the ministerial visit was to get information and insights into the operations of the border under the Border Management Authority (BMA),” the Ministry of the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) said of Thursday’s Ministerial visit.
According to the DPSA, the border post between South Africa and Mozambique is one of the busiest in the country and is managed by the BMA, which was officially launched in October 2023.
The Ministers were briefed by BMA Deputy Commissioner of Operations, Major General (retired) David Chilembe and other senior managers on the achievements, challenges and plans in the operations of the border post since the BMA took over from the Department of Home affairs.
The authority is responsible for the execution of frontline border law enforcement functions related to, inter alia, port health, immigration control, access control, biosecurity, food safety and phyto-sanitary control, land border infrastructure development and maintenance, and border information and risk management.
The BMA said the visit allowed the Ministers to acquaint themselves with the day-to-day work of the authority at the border post through exposure to the pedestrian office, main port, cargo by-pass, borderline, stop and search (main gate).
In addition, the BMA said it was cooperating with the South African Revenue Service (SARS) to fast track the movement of trucks.
This as the DPSA complimented the authority for the work it has done thus far with limited resources.- SAnews.gov.za
