The Border Management Authority has praised the deployment of drones at the Beitbridge border post for significantly reducing illegal activities. Commissioner Dr. Mike Masiapato highlighted how the technology has helped monitor crossings and intercept undocumented passengers. This comes amid a new campaign against fraud and corruption at the busy port.
The Border Management Authority (BMA) in South Africa has credited drone technology with major successes in fighting crime at the Beitbridge border post in Musina, Limpopo. Commissioner Dr. Mike Masiapato, speaking on November 11, 2025, during the launch of a campaign to curb fraud and corruption, noted that the drones were procured in 2023 and officially launched in April 2025.
Beitbridge, one of the country's busiest ports of entry, has long faced challenges with smuggling of goods, corruption, and illegal immigration. Masiapato explained the impact: “Before we even had drones and before we came on board as the Border Management Authority just on the corridor on the N1 around the Makhado around Polokwane for instance, you will find that the police intercept the bus with something like 60 passengers and out of the 60, they will be around 50 without documents. I think you’ll remember that at all those incidents they used to be a lot of them almost every weekend and now you can ask yourself what happened to those instances is primarily because now with the drone we deploy it in the air, we are able to see when the bus arrives even in the Zimbabwean side.”
The commissioner urged border officials to embody the BMA's core values—Vigilance, Integrity, Professionalism, Patriotism, Innovation, and Excellence (VIP PIE)—to enhance border management. This initiative underscores the BMA's push for technological solutions to bolster security at key entry points, potentially setting a model for other borders.