via SA beefs up staff at border | The Herald December 11, 2015
Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
South Africa has deployed 78 immigration officers to Beitbridge Border Post to facilitate quick movement of human and vehicular traffic entering or leaving that country during the festive season, an official said on Wednesday. Home Affairs spokesperson Mr Thabo Mokgola said in an interview that they had also extended operating hours at several ports of entry across that country to ensure speedy flow of traffic.
“The Department of Home Affairs is ready for the festive season movement of travellers and goods at all our ports of entry including land, sea and airports,” he said. “We have deployed an additional 78 officials to the Beitbridge port of entry to assist with the expected high volumes of travellers.”
Mr Mokgola added that selected ports of entry will between 10 December 2015 and 14 January 2016 operate on extended hours, with additional staff and extra resources.
He said the main objective was to cater for the pre-festive season movement, the post-festive season period and the re-opening of schools in the New Year. He said Beitbridge and Ribombo were two of the busiest in-land border posts in that country.
Mr Mokgola could not disclose the exact number of immigration officers at Beitbridge but it is understood that they operate with 20 immigration officers per shift during off peak periods and 30 officers during peak times.
The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority deployed more relief staff from less busy stations to Beitbridge last week to help with the clearance of human and cargo throughout the holidays.
The assistant regional immigration officer for Zimbabwe responsible for compliance and enforcement, Mr Francis Mabika said they had come up with a raft of measures to ensure a smooth flow of traffic at all borders across the country.
The department has 80 officers at Beitbridge. Beitbridge border post is one of the busiest in-lands ports of entry in southern Africa with 170 000 people, 2100 buses, 25 000 private cars and 20 000 trucks passing through every month.
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