The South African Department of Home Affairs and the Border Management Authority have launched new border drones, tech and ‘deportation buses’ to combat an expected surge in illegal border crossings over the festive period.
This marks the first time these have been used in tackling the country’s porous borders and marks the start of what DHA minister Leon Schreiber calls a “dramatic” expansion of tech-driven solutions.
“Our commitment to digital transformation and embracing technology is absolute,” Schreiber said at the launch.
The first set of drones will specifically be deployed to five ports of entry throughout the festive period, the minister said, giving the department “eyes in the sky” to track and apprehend illegal immigrants.
December and January are the peak periods in terms of movement into and out of South African ports of entry, the department noted.
“No longer will it be the case that people can move around without us having eyes on them. We want to send a very clear message to people who want to violate South Africa’s emigration laws: for the very first time, you won’t even know that we are seeing you.
“We are above you, we are around you, and we are watching for infringements along the borderline,” he said.
In addition to the drones, the Department is also implementing the use of body cameras and so-called ‘deportation buses’.
The minister said the cameras will help clamp down on corruption and ensure the safety of officials, including border guards and the defence force.
The buses, meanwhile, will be out on the roads, transporting illegal immigrants caught crossing the border back over.
“We welcome any traveller, any investor, any tourist, any skilled person who will follow our laws and help us build South Africa. But that is different from people who violate our law and don’t want to comply with our rules,” the minister said.
“You will find we have a renewed commitment to enforcing the rule of law in South Africa. That is how you create a secure country.”
The minister noted that the buses have already deported the first group of 290 illegal miners back to Mozambique.
Schreiber said this was just the start of the BMA’s use of this technology and that South Africans should expect it to expand “dramatically” in the future.
