Beitbridge: 200 guards deployed to combat illicit cross-border movement
The Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi said the guards will be statically deployed at five identified vulnerable segments of the South African borderline.
LIMPOPO – “If foreigners want to attempt to cross the borders of South Africa illegally, trained border guards will be waiting to arrest them.”
These were the words of the Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, who added that the guards are physically, tactically and technically ready to make the country’s borders less porous.
Motsoaledi was joined by his Deputy Minister, Njabulo Nzuza, Musina Mayor Godfrey Mawela, Acting Mayor advocate Anderson Mudunungu and Thovhele Mmbangiseni Manenzhe on July 14 during the deployment of the first cohort of 200 border guards, which he said has marked another significant milestone in the evolution and operationalisation of the Border Management Authority.
“These chosen few have gone through security vetting and will be subjected to regular lifestyle audits to ensure that everyone is kept honest to the cause. Their deployment ushers in a new era in border law enforcement of the country and they will be deployed in the identified vulnerable segments of the borderline to enhance our country’s development by directing people who want to enter or leave South Africa, to the official border gates or ports of entry,” said Motsoaledi.
According to Motsoaledi, the new recruits of border guards will be responsible for eliminating illicit cross-border movement of goods, including countering human and wildlife trafficking.
The newly recruited members were warmly welcomed at the deployment ceremony held at Beitbridge Port of entry in Musina.
The highlights of the day included the pass-out parade of the newly recruited members, who were carefully selected and trained with focus on fitness and physical assessment, whilst the broader integration process is underway and this cohort will be statically deployed at the identified five vulnerable segments of the borderline, working together with members of the South African Defence Force.
Motsoaledi wished the border guards all the best, saying they were young patriots who were deployed to answer the call to serve in a manner that enables the country to pursue its policies, in the interests of the people of South Africa and the world.
One of the new border guards, Teffo Letebele said he was committed to uphold the Constitution, as the supreme law of the country and that he and others will enforce the border law enforcement functions with integrity, honesty and to the best of their ability, in order to protect the sovereignty of the country and the safety of the people.
