Border Management Authority (BMA) has activated a nationwide operational plan to ensure secure and efficient movement across South Africa’s 71 ports of entry during the Easter travel period.
The plan, announced on Sunday, March 29, is structured around four phases—planning, execution, demobilization and sustenance—with the planning phase concluding on March 30, 2026.
It involves coordination with neighbouring countries including Lesotho, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Eswatini and Botswana to streamline border operations and extend operating hours at key crossings between March 27 and April 10.
Execution of the plan will run from March 31 to April 9, 2026, with peak outbound travel expected on April 2 and return traffic peaking on April 6. Authorities anticipate daily volumes exceeding 25,000 travellers at the busiest entry points.
To bolster capacity, additional personnel have been deployed at major airports, including Cape Town International and OR Tambo International, alongside tourism safety officers and social workers to support vulnerable travellers and combat human trafficking.
The BMA, supported by national security and transport agencies, says the initiative is designed to manage heightened Easter traffic, enhance border security and maintain seamless travel during one of the busiest periods on the national calendar.