Pretoria: The Border Management Authority (BMA) has raised concern over the increasing number of unaccompanied minors intercepted at South Africa’s ports of entry during the 2025/2026 festive season.
According to South African Government News Agency, BMA Commissioner Dr. Michael Masiapato reported a notable rise in cases involving undocumented and unaccompanied children attempting to illegally enter or exit South Africa during this period. At Beitbridge Port of Entry alone, officials discovered about 53 unaccompanied minors, some as young as three years old.
One significant incident involved an 11-month-old baby found abandoned at the border on December 13, 2025. Additionally, 15 minors were intercepted in mountainous areas at the Lebombo Port of Entry while attempting to exit South Africa illegally. Commissioner Masiapato highlighted a case where a Mozambican national was caught trying to smuggle a South African child to Mozambique. The child had been reported missing in Johannesburg, leading to the immediate arrest of the suspect by the South African Police Service.
All cases involving unaccompanied minors have been referred to the Department of Social Development (DSD), with the children placed in safe care facilities, adhering to both domestic and international child protection laws. In response to this growing issue, the BMA and DSD convened an urgent meeting with Zimbabwean authorities to discuss joint initiatives, including parent awareness sessions and the joint screening of children before reuniting them with family members.
The Commissioner also acknowledged the cooperation of bus operators in avoiding the transport of undocumented travellers, particularly minors.
In terms of agricultural and environmental bio-security, significant progress has been made in protecting South Africa from related threats. BMA biosecurity specialists conducted searches of over 369,703 pieces of luggage at various ports, resulting in the interception and destruction of unauthorised consignments of plants, animal products, and related goods. Despite these efforts, some travellers continue to bring unauthorised items into the country. The Commissioner commended those who complied with import regulations.
On health matters, BMA health specialists screened approximately 1,361,270 travellers across ports of entry. Protocols were activated after the interception of one set of human remains, and fraudulent documentation cases were detected, particularly among Angolan nationals. Enhanced health and security measures were implemented due to global outbreaks of infectious diseases, leading to increased screening and disease surveillance activities.
Fifteen travellers were identified as sick on-board aircraft, allowing for immediate medical intervention. Additionally, 514 travellers from Yellow Fever endemic countries were screened, with two intercepted without valid Yellow Fever certificates. Malaria screening was conducted for 167,314 travellers from endemic regions, with 213 suspected cases tested upon arrival.