BMA Commissioner Dr Michael Masiapato told a forum at Oshoek Port of Entry that a minority of corrupt officials damage the reputation of border services, despite integration of over 1,200 immigration officers nationwide.
The Border Management Authority (BMA) says corruption among some officials, including cases involving bribe-taking at ports of entry, is adding pressure to an organisation operating at just 25% capacity.
BMA Commissioner Dr Michael Masiapato made the remarks during the Border Management and Immigration Anti-Corruption Forum’s quarterly campaign held at the Oshoek Port of Entry on Wednesday, where multiple law enforcement agencies engaged frontline officials on efforts to combat corruption within South Africa’s border environment.
He said the authority, established in 2023, had integrated more than 1,200 immigration officers, over 380 agricultural biosecurity specialists, about 370 port health officials, and environmental biosecurity personnel into a single border management system aimed at strengthening operations.
IOL previously reported that more than 50 officials have been dismissed from the BMA over corrupt activities.
