Overview
- Tabled on 4 November, the bill establishes common control zones so people and goods are cleared once rather than undergoing duplicate checks.
- A media report says Parliament has adopted the measure, with National Council of Provinces concurrence and the president’s signature still needed for it to become law.
- The framework empowers the Home Affairs minister to sign operating agreements with neighbouring countries for shared border posts.
- Implementation planning includes PPP upgrades at six major land ports, with firm appointments at Beitbridge, Oshoek and Kopfontein and conditional appointments at Lebombo, Maseru Bridge and Ficksburg pending National Treasury approval.
- Complementary facilitation steps are underway, including an Electronic Travel Authorisation pilot that has processed the first 200 applications for G20 delegates before a phased expansion to more tourists.