PRETORIA, South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs (Interior) has announced that it will be extending the operating hours at its various border posts stepping up security at these crossing points with neighbouring countries to ensure the smooth movement of people and goods in and out of South Africa during the peak year-end festive season period.

Operational hours will be extended for busy ports of entry, covering pre-festive season movements, the festive season period and the re-opening of schools, that is, from Dec 6, 2017 to Jan 16, 2018, the department said in a statement Thursday.

The Lebombo border post on the border with Mozambique in Mpumalanga Province will be operational 24 hours a day between Dec 13 and Jan 8 and the Oshoek border post on the border with the Kingdom of Lesotho will be operational 24 hours a day between Dec 21 and 25, 2017.

The Van Rooyenshek on the border with Lesotho in Free State Province will be operational 24 hours a day between Dec 22 and 23, while the Caledonspoort bordr post will be open 24 hours on Dec 22.

In order to avoid the congestion associated with peak periods, the department will also deploy additional staff at targeted ports of entry. The department said it would work to ensure only legitimate people and goods are allowed to enter into or depart from South Africa.

During the 2015/16 festive period, more than 5.3 million movements were recorded, comprising arrivals and departures of citizens and foreigners. Of the total, more than 3.8 million were for foreigners. The numbers rose in the 2016/17 festive period to a total of more than 5.5 million movements, with the number of foreigners recorded at more than 3.9 million.

South Africa has a common border with Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland and Lesotho.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK