Political Parties Unite to Push for More Funding for Border Management Authority

Political parties from across South Africa’s political spectrum have come out in strong support of boosting the funding of the Border Management Authority (BMA), as the entity grapples with chronic underfunding and operational bottlenecks.

Speaking before Parliament’s Committees on Appropriations, BMA Commissioner Michael Masiapato made a compelling case for an urgent financial injection, warning that without adequate resources, South Africa’s borders would remain dangerously porous.

The BMA, established in 2023 to coordinate border law enforcement and the movement of goods and people, is currently functioning at a fraction of its intended capacity.

“We require at least 4,000 personnel and R2.2 billion to effectively secure the borderline. But we only have 600 border guards,” Masiapato told lawmakers. “We remain grossly underfunded.”

He added that their current staffing levels cover only 2,600 of the 11,000 approved posts, with critical vacancies in ICT, finance, agriculture, and health.

Despite requesting R2.9 billion, the BMA received just R250 million, which was later redirected toward infrastructure maintenance. A separate application for R500 million from the Criminal Asset Recovery Account (CARA) yielded only R150 million, allocated for basic tools of the trade.

“We’ve now made another request for R4.3 billion and are awaiting a response,” Masiapato said. “The situation is urgent, we even face a R4.3 billion overdraft.”

Political Support Mounts

Home Affairs Deputy Minister Njabulo Nzuza echoed the urgency, insisting that an investment in the BMA would deliver returns for the country by bolstering border control, increasing SARS revenue collection, and stimulating economic growth.

“It’s not just a plea for money, but a plea for resources to turn the situation around,” Nzuza said.

Chairperson of the Home Affairs Portfolio Committee Mosa Chabane agreed, saying the BMA has been underfunded for three consecutive years despite clear warnings about the consequences of porous borders and inadequate staffing.

“This is an entity struggling with capacity and technology constraints. We’ve grappled with these issues, and it’s time to address them seriously,” said Chabane.

Budget Reallocation in the Works

Appropriations Standing Committee Chair Mmusi Maimane indicated that the case for increased BMA funding is being taken seriously and could be addressed in the next Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), due later this year.

“The BMA’s programme cannot be understated,” Maimane said. “We will engage National Treasury and request a presentation from the Parliamentary Budget Office. We are also examining reallocations within Home Affairs and other departments.”

He noted that while the current fiscal framework guides decisions, amendments can be made to better align the budget with pressing national priorities like border management.

Understaffed and Overstretched

Currently, the BMA operates in 36 ports of entry, but staffing gaps in health and agriculture persist. Masiapato warned that many of the 71 legal points of entry into the country have no consistent health screening, leaving the nation vulnerable to cross-border disease transmission.

“People enter without being assessed,” he noted, highlighting risks that could be avoided with proper staffing.

With broad political backing and increased scrutiny on budget allocations, the spotlight is now on the National Treasury to respond to the BMA’s appeal, a move that could strengthen South Africa’s border control, economic resilience, and national security in the long term.

{Source: IOL}

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com