In a bid to tackle the longstanding issue of undocumented migration, the Border Management Authority (BMA) has deployed drones to patrol its borders. And it’s paying off – over 1,000 undocumented migrants were intercepted over the Easter weekend alone. Because who needs human border patrols when you have drones?
BMA Commissioner Dr. Michael Masiapato is thrilled with the results. “Without drones, this work becomes very expensive and ineffective,” he said. With drones, the BMA can monitor vulnerable segments along the border and corridors, detecting individuals using makeshift boats to cross. Once detected, coordinates are sent to ground teams, who swoop in to intercept.
Over the four-day Easter weekend, more than 1,000 undocumented migrants were intercepted, thanks to the drones. The BMA plans to implement a targeted approach to intercept facilitators assisting undocumented migrants. Because it’s not just the migrants who need to worry – it’s also those who help them.
Masiapato acknowledges that the root causes of undocumented migration – unemployment and socioeconomic issues in neighboring countries – are complex and require a higher-level solution. Meanwhile, South Africa remains a “pull factor” due to its relatively better economic conditions. Lovely.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber recently launched four drones and 40 body-worn cameras to strengthen border security. The new technologies were deployed for the first time over Easter, and it seems they’re making a difference. Because when it comes to border security, high-tech solutions are the way to go.
South Africa’s borders have long been plagued by undocumented migration, cross-border crime, smuggling, and human trafficking. Porous borders, corruption, and poor infrastructure don’t help. Masiapato’s criticism of neighboring countries for not doing enough to curb undocumented migration raises questions about regional cooperation and responsibility. Who’s to blame, and who’s to fix it?
