Border management operations upscaled as festive season nears
Nomazulu Moyo
MUSINA, Limpopo – The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is grappling with a surge in illegal crossings and the smuggling of goods at the South Africa-Zimbabwe border.
Briefing the media on Friday, 29 December 2024, in Musina, an SANDF official explained that soldiers are deployed under Operation Corona, a mission established to enforce national border control and protect the Republic of South Africa.
Lieutenant Colonel Mzoxolo Ketsekile, Battalion Commander of Operation Corona, highlighted that illegal border crossings are the most frequent unlawful activities along the borderline. These crossings occur daily, with undocumented individuals primarily entering from neighboring countries. While crossings happen at any time, most occur at night or early morning to evade detection by deployed personnel.
“There are individuals known as Goma Gomas who assist undocumented persons in crossing the border. Once they have crossed, these individuals often rob or even assault the women, knowing these victims are unlikely to report the crimes to the South African Police Service (SAPS) due to fear of deportation,” Colonel Ketsekile said.
He also noted that some pregnant women cross into South Africa and give birth in local hospitals, attempting to register their children as South African citizens to access social grants. He added that the high cost of living and unemployment in neighboring countries leaves many desperate to enter South Africa, with some attempting multiple crossings even after deportation.
Colonel Ketsekile further emphasized that smuggling, particularly of illegal cigarettes, has become a highly lucrative business for criminal syndicates. “Cigarette smuggling is the largest form of smuggling along the border, but other goods, such as copper, ivory, explosives, and drugs, are also trafficked. The explosives are often used in ATM bombings and illegal mining operations,” he explained.
He outlined various syndicates involved in smuggling:
Cigarette smugglers
Vehicle smugglers
Counterfeit goods and contraband traffickers
Goma Gomas (transporters)
Poachers
Commercial explosives smugglers
Undocumented persons or stock thieves
Colonel Ketsekile expressed concern about the high level of organization among vehicle smugglers, who are unpredictable. “Vehicles are often stolen or hijacked in South Africa and smuggled over the border. To combat this, all vehicles near the border need to be stopped and verified,” he warned.
In terms of the operation’s success, 154 individuals were arrested, including 90 Zimbabwean males, 54 Zimbabwean females, 5 Ethiopian males, 3 Botswana males, and 2 Malawian males. Additionally, goods worth over R33 million were seized, including:
Cigarettes: R8,421,545.38
Cannabis: R1,520.00
Drugs: R700.00
Alcohol: R32,245.00
Groceries: R249,900.00
Vehicles: R3,741,260.00
Other contraband: R21,015,715.00
Persistent Patrols and Challenges
Major Shihlangoma Mahlahlane, Bravo Company Commander for Operation Corona, stated that border patrols continue year-round despite harsh weather conditions. “The soldiers are committed to protecting the border. However, we face challenges daily, as locals are often negative toward us because we disrupt their illegal operations,” he said.
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Regarding the damaged border fence, Major Mahlahlane explained, “The fence has been cut by people transporting goods. Two years ago, the fence was intact, but criminals took advantage of gaps in our patrols to create numerous exits. A properly erected and maintained fence would greatly assist our efforts.”
He added that suspects often flee into the river or hide in informal structures near the border, making apprehension difficult. “These structures should be removed to enable effective patrolling within a 10-kilometer radius of the border,” he emphasised.
Major Mahlahlane described the process of dealing with offenders: “We hand them over to the military police, who transfer them to SAPS or the Border Management Authority (BMA). The BMA, which includes immigration officers, is responsible for deporting them.”
He also stressed the challenges posed by the large number of undocumented persons. “The number of people crossing illegally is alarmingly high. It’s difficult to stop them because the damaged fence provides multiple exit points. Smugglers exploit this by crossing to the west when we patrol the east, and vice versa.”
Festive Season Preparations
Captain (SAN) Jacobus Theunissen, Senior Staff Officer for Operational Communication at the Joint Operations Division, stated that operations will be intensified during the festive season in collaboration with various government departments responsible for border management.
