BMA Intercepts Over 4,000 Foreign Nationals Attempting to Enter Into South Africa Illegally

• Border Management Authority (BMA) Commissioner Michael Masiapato discussed how foreign nationals were attempting to re-enter the country
• Approximately 90,000 undocumented foreign nationals exited the country amid calls for them to leave ahead of the 30 June 2026 deadline
• The BMA has also turned its attention to individuals who are reportedly helping others enter the country illegally

Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online.

The Border Management Authority (BMA) has intercepted more than 4,000 individuals who attempted to enter South Africa illegally between 1 April and 31 July 2026.

That was confirmed by BMA Commissioner Michael Masiapato, who said that undocumented foreigners were still attempting to enter the country. This despite a recent mass wave of voluntary and enforced departures.

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The departures came about after March and March, and other groups called for undocumented foreign nationals to leave the country by 30 June 2026. Approximately 90,000 undocumented foreign nationals exited the country over the preceding three months because of the calls.

But despite the scale of that exodus, the BMA's latest figures suggest that a significant number of individuals have since attempted to return, underscoring the ongoing challenge facing South African border authorities.

“We’ve been able to intercept over 4,229 individuals who did not have documents that were once again attempting to enter the country illegally,” he confirmed.

BMA cracking down on individuals who facilitate illegal entry

Addressing Parliament's Home Affairs Committee on Tuesday, 12 August 2026, Masiapato said that the authority had also been pursuing individuals who facilitated illegal entry.

Those operations yielded an additional 10,000 deportations, targeting the networks enabling undocumented movement rather than just the migrants themselves.

In addition, more than 5,000 people who exceeded their permitted stay have been declared undesirable, a designation that formally bars re-entry. With border pressure showing little sign of easing, the BMA has shifted focus to other exposed areas, including vulnerable entry points in the Northern Cape, which are now receiving increased security attention.

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Home Affairs exceeds deportation budget

Briefly News reported that the Department of Home Affairs has vastly exceeded its deportation budget.

The department has spent R292 million on deportation operations this financial year, nearly five times the budgeted amount.

South Africa has formally requested reimbursement from several foreign governments to help cover the costs of deporting their citizens

Source: Briefly News