South Africa’s borders besieged: porous fences, staff shortages, and rising smuggling

Borders besieged: South Africa’s porous ports of entry under pressure

South Africa’s northernmost border with Zimbabwe is under growing strain, with officials warning that the absence of fencing, staff shortages, and increasingly sophisticated smuggling syndicates have left the country’s ports of entry dangerously exposed.

At Beitbridge, the country’s busiest border post, the Limpopo River is the only barrier separating South Africa from Zimbabwe. With no fence or wall to reinforce security, large stretches of land are left unprotected.

Beitbridge port commander Ntakuseni Lambani says this makes the area highly vulnerable.

“Because the fencing is destroyed, the river becomes our force multiplier of some sort. Once the river is dry, this place becomes busy with crossings and movement of goods. Both countries are losing revenue out of this because people are not declaring their goods,” he explained.

Authorities say syndicates have perfected smuggling operations, often using makeshift boats to ferry goods and people across the river, with taxis waiting nearby to transport them further into the country.

The Border Management Authority (BMA), tasked with securing South Africa’s 71 official ports of entry, is grappling with severe staff shortages. According to acting Oshoek port commander Sibusiso Mahlangu, the BMA requires 11,000 officials, but currently has just 2,000 on the ground.

“We are struggling to properly man all the vulnerable segments within the ports,” Mahlangu said, adding that despite these challenges, interceptions of stolen vehicles, illegal dagga, and other contraband continue.

The vulnerabilities are not confined to Beitbridge. Border posts with Eswatini and Mozambique are also besieged by organised crime, including human trafficking, drug smuggling, cross-border car theft, illegal mining, and arms smuggling.

To bolster security, the Transport Department has announced plans to install a toll plaza near Beitbridge, while the BMA is exploring the use of drones and advanced monitoring technologies to monitor high-risk areas.

Officials warn, however, that without urgent reinforcements and structural upgrades, South Africa’s borders will remain a hotspot for syndicates and a gateway for serious crimes with national and regional security implications.