Overview
- The Border Management Authority, which unveiled its Easter operation on Sunday, said the 10‑day surge runs from March 31 to April 9 with peak departures forecast for April 2 and peak returns on Easter Monday.
- Officials will use drones, bodycams and new uniquely numbered passport stamps to track activity and link any illegal stamping to a specific officer, with one surveillance drone donated by KwaZulu-Natal’s premier.
- Operating hours are being extended at select land posts in coordination with six neighboring states, including 24‑hour windows on key days at Groblersbrug and Kopfontein and longer days at Kosi Bay that began March 27.
- Extra staff and support are in place through partnerships, with about 50 Western Cape officials bolstering Cape Town International, roughly 80 Gauteng officers aiding OR Tambo, tourism safety officers guiding crowds, and social workers safeguarding minors and vulnerable travelers.
- Enforcement will be strict as only machine‑readable passports will be processed, more than 50 officials have already been fired for corruption, and families traveling with children are urged to carry required consent letters to prevent delays.