The Home Affairs 24-hour National Operational Centre monitoring movement of travellers in and out of South Africa has recorded that over two million travellers were processed at all 72 national ports of entry- sea, land and airports, for the period coinciding with the festive season, 1 to 23 December 2012.
In this regard, a total of 2 837 827 travellers were processed in all national ports of entry for the same period, which indicates a decrease of 3% as compared to the same period in 2011 which recorded a total number of 2 913 863 travellers. The figure of 2 837 827 includes both South Africans and foreign nationals travelling through land, sea and air ports of entry.
The Home Affairs National Operational Centre has also detected the following trends in terms of departures of foreign nationals: Mozambique:12 013; Zimbabwe: 11 650; Lesotho: 11 169; Botswana: 3 210; UK: 1 268; Namibia: 853; Germany: 754; USA: 736; Zambia: 665
On the other hand the following were recorded traveller movement of arrivals of foreign nationals: Lesotho: 8 196; Zimbabwe: 5 152; Swaziland: 3 748; Botswana: 3 079; Mozambique: 3028; UK: 1 959; Germany: 1438; USA: 1302; Namibia: 905; Netherlands: 832
The department has as part of its plans for the festive season increased the number of personnel deployed to the 72 national ports of entry including the extension of working hours in anticipation of high traveller volumes associated with the festive period.
The following seven ports of entry recorded the highest traveller movements in and out of South Africa during the same period: Oliver Tambo International Airport; Beit Bridge; Lebombo; Ficksburg; Maseru Bridge; Oshoek and Cape Town International Airport.
Home Affairs can report that the situation in respect to Beit Bridge, Lebombo, Maseru Bridge and Oshoek, which had witnessed unprecedented traveller volumes earlier this week, due mainly to traffic control has now been brought under control. This was done through the increased number of personnel including working hours to ensure smooth processing and facilitation of movement of those travelling through our ports of entry.
Once again, we reiterate Minister Naledi Pandor’s best wishes for travellers through our ports of entry, a smooth and safe festive season.
