BMA on standby as tension quell in Mozambique

‏Border Management Authority (BMA) Commissioner, Michael Masiapato, says they are prepared for fresh protests, should tensions escalate at the Mozambican border. 

His comments come as police and border management authorities remain on high alert following the unrest at the Lebombo border post last week. 

The commissioner says at this stage, the post remains open as they have not identified any immediate threats. 

“Everything is going according to plan. We continue to process people and the cargo. There is no threat but if there is one that moves towards the port, definitely we are going to handle it,” he adds. 

Mozambique’s October 9 presidential election sparked political instability, with the opposition taking to the streets – rejecting the results as rigged.

According to international NGO, Human Rights Watch, at least 30 people were killed, and hundreds more injured or arrested during demonstrations. 

South Africa has had to temporarily close its side of the border post with neighbouring Mozambique for safety reasons. 

Traffic was flowing without problems through the border today after it was re-opened.

Meanwhile, Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber says South Africa’s Border Management Authority is severely understaffed and underfunded, hindering efforts to secure the country’s ports of entry. 

He was speaking in Pretoria, as industry professionals gathered for the annual Border Management Conference to discuss innovative ways to secure South Africa’s borders.

Dr. Schreiber emphasised that the BMA’s current staff of 3 000 is not enough, needing at least five times more personnel to effectively fulfil its mandate. 

He attributed this shortfall to a lack of adequate funding from the National Treasury.

Terrorism expert, Willem Els, echoed similar concerns. 

He highlighted areas, including Hillbrow and Soweto, as hubs for potential terror activity. Through his research, Els found that terrorist organisations were radicalising children from as young as 11 in these communities.  

He described the developments as concerning as children are the most susceptible to brainwashing.

“If they start to embed this radical ideology within children, by the time they grow up they will be ready to become operatives for these terrorist organisations,” he added. 

Els emphasised that while authorities are on track to monitor these activities, they simply lack the capacity to infiltrate the right-wing groups. 

He’s called for a multi-sector intervention to address these challenges.