Pretoria - The South African Government's Border Control Operational Coordinating Committee (BCOCC) on Thursday released details of measures put in place to prevent possible congestion at the busiest ports of entry over the festive season.
In a statement, the BCOCC said operational activities will be monitored by the National Border Management Coordination Centre (NBMCC).
"Crime prevention/law enforcement measures will also be intensified in a coordinated manner at all the key ports of entry by the relevant government departments and agencies.
"Human resource capacity in all affected ports of entry will be increased to ensure smooth facilitation of travellers and goods," said BCOCC coordinator Patrick Moeng.
The BCOCC is the custodian for strategic management of the South African border environment. Its mission is to facilitate inter-agency cooperation and coordination. It serves to coordinate the operational approaches of all border management agencies.
Senior managers at ports of entry will convene daily joint sessions so as to closely monitor the execution of festive season plans as well as trends in the movement of goods and people and if deemed necessary, employ contingency plans at the busiest ports of entry across the country.
The Home Affairs Department has extended operational hours at several ports of entry, including Mpumalanga's Mahamba port of entry, which will on 22 December operate from 6am to 10pm. On 24 December, it will operate from 7am to midnight. On Christmas Day the hours will be from 6am to 10pm.
The Eastern Cape's Qachas Nek port of entry will operate on a 24-hour basis from the 20 - 24 December, while the Ramatsiliso port of entry will operate from 7am - 10pm from 20 - 24 December.
The BCOCC reminded travellers that emergency passports will not be issued at a port of entry over the festive season and that all goods in their possession must be declared with all the necessary documentation.
