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Balancing borders and humanitarianism — BMA’s struggle to secure SA’s frontiers amid migration challenges

Balancing borders and humanitarianism — BMA’s struggle to secure SA’s frontiers amid migration challenges
Immigrants, most of them from Zimbabwe, rush the gate to apply for refugee asylum permits at a government refugee center June 17, 2008 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Officials were overwhelmed by the crowd of thousands that appeared Tuesday morning, after a three day weekend in South Africa. The wave of immigrants crossing illegally from Zimbabwe continues, despite the xenophobic violence against immigrants last month. (Photo: John Moore/Getty Images)
Lerato Mutsila
By Lerato Mutsila
3 Apr 2025
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The Border Management Authority, which is tasked with protecting South Africa’s borders, has just turned two, and on its anniversary is contemplating how to balance its security responsibilities with migration’s humanitarian imperatives.

The Border Management Authority (BMA), on the second anniversary of its establishment, is contending with the very reason for its existence, pondering how to create a border management system that balances security imperatives with humanitarian realities.

Migration in South Africa is a highly contentious issue, with the discourse largely fuelled by populist xenophobic rhetoric from high-profile politicians, which further exacerbates anti-immigrant sentiment among the public.

The Human Sciences Research Council’s 2021 South African Social Attitudes Survey found that the general population viewed foreign nationals as a threat, and a major source of unemployment and other socioeconomic challenges.

However, sustained anti-immigrant sentiment in South Africa has not deterred migration to the region. This has further reinforced the perception that the BMA, tasked with protecting the nation’s borders and managing the flow of people into the country, is not effectively handling migration, particularly of undocumented individuals.

border management migration A Zimbabwean migrant rushes attempts to cross into South Africa illegally near Musina on 26 May 2008. (Photo: John Moore / Getty Images)



Conversely, South Africa’s migration policies and their implementation by the Department of Home Affairs have come under fire from several civil society organisations and migration experts for being largely discriminatory towards migrants. This has been particularly evident in the widespread criticism of the White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection.

Read more: Hell Affairs

These two extremes are why the BMA reached out to migration and foreign policy experts and hosted a migration colloquium to explore creation of a border management system that balances its mandate to secure the country’s borders with the humanitarian realities driving migration.

BMA’s achievements and challenges


Delivering the keynote address at the event, the BMA commissioner, Dr Michael Masiapato, said that in the past two years the BMA had made significant strides in fulfilling its mandate regarding migration. Key achievements included:

  • The apprehension of 468,000 individuals who tried to enter the country illegally;

  • The arrest of 2,344 wanted criminals, 1,451 of whom were linked to contraventions of immigration-related laws; and

  • The interception of more than 720 fraudulent and/or fraudulently acquired documents.


However, Masiapato acknowledged that the BMA still faces significant challenges in combating irregular migration, human trafficking and transnational organised crime.

“The conundrum of implementing border security and migration laws while addressing humanitarian issues remains a complex and multifaceted challenge. However, there is no debate that effective border management is critical for preserving national security, protecting the country’s national interests, ensuring public safety and fostering economic prosperity. It requires a delicate balance between facilitating legitimate trade and travel while preventing and combating irregular migration, transnational organised crime and terrorism,” he said.

Executive director of the Institute for Global Dialogue, Dr Philani Mthembu. (Photo: Friedrich Ebert Stiftung)


The value of migrants


Dr Philani Mthembu, executive director of the Institute for Global Dialogue, noted that the increase in civil conflict, climate emergencies, economic downturns and sociopolitical unrest unfolding in several African countries means that migration to South Africa will continue to grow.

“South Africa holds a unique position on the continent as an attractive destination for migration. The nature of our economy draws migrants, and migrant workers have contributed significantly to building our economy,” Mthembu said.

According to the 2022 Census, Statistics South Africa estimates there were about 2.4 million foreign nationals living in South Africa, making up just 3% of the population of 62 million. However, obtaining an accurate count of the number of migrants, particularly undocumented individuals, remains challenging.

A joint report by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and the International Labour Organization found that migrants play a vital role in the labour market, economic growth and public finance, potentially raising the nation’s GDP per capita by up to 5%.

Mthembu further noted that, although it cannot be precisely measured, undocumented migrants also contribute to South Africa’s economy, particularly in the informal market. Despite the rising anti-immigrant rhetoric in South Africa, he argued that the movement of people should not be seen as a negative phenomenon but rather as an issue requiring more effective management. This includes removing barriers to documentation.

Migrants, most of them from Zimbabwe, rush the gate to apply for refugee asylum permits at a government refugee centre in Johannesburg on 17 June 2008. (Photo: John Moore / Getty Images)


Barriers to documentation


South Africa’s pathways to documentation, particularly for migrants, have been widely criticised as flawed. Some of the key barriers include systemic issues at the Department of Home Affairs concerning the renewal of visas and exemptions, as well as asylum-seeker and refugee permits. These challenges often lead to migrants becoming undocumented, even when they initially entered the country legally.

“The majority of migrants do not want to be undocumented. Addressing irregular migration requires South Africa to create the necessary infrastructure to document migrants properly. If we establish a system that facilitates the legal movement of people and incentivises legal entry over illegal entry, we will ultimately make the work of the Border Management Authority easier,” Mthembu said.

The role of immigration in South Africa’s national identity


Brand South Africa CEO Neville Matjie highlighted that South Africa’s brand is more than just a logo or slogan – it is a collective identity the nation projects to the world. He stressed that immigration policies play a central role in shaping South Africa’s national identity.

“How we manage and align our immigration policies with the broader image we want to project is of paramount importance. The alignment between our national brand and our immigration framework is crucial because immigration policies are often one of the first points of interaction a foreign national has with a destination,” Matjie said.

As South Africa continues to grapple with migration challenges, the BMA’s efforts to strike a balance between national security and humanitarian concerns will be crucial in shaping the country’s approach to border management in the years to come. DM

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