Military vehicles on a road with soldiers and civilians standing around Mozambique soldiers patrol the streets during a protest in Maputo, Mozambique. Picture: AFP
Durban: AfriForum has called on the South African Border Management Authority (BMA) and law enforcement agencies to intensify efforts to combat illegal border crossings, as unrest in Mozambique forces thousands to flee their homes.
The civil rights group said the crisis, sparked by post-election violence in Mozambique, has led to some seeking refuge in neighbouring countries, including Malawi and Eswatini. According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), approximately 2 000 Mozambicans entered Malawi in the last week of 2024, while over 1 000 sought safety in Eswatini.
The Malindza refugee reception centre in Eswatini, built for 250 people, is now housing over 1 000 individuals, highlighting the severity of the situation.
In South Africa, concerns over border security have intensified. AfriForum noted that last month, officials at the Lebombo port of entry intercepted a minibus taxi that was attempting to smuggle 14 undocumented Mozambican children aged between four and fourteen into the country.
“We have to ensure that those seeking asylum do so through the correct and legal processes, seeing as criminals such as smugglers and human traffickers are exploiting the crisis, and this cannot be allowed,” said Jacques Broodryk, AfriForum’s chief spokesperson for Community Safety.
Broodryk outlined an approach to address the crisis. “South Africa must strengthen security at all ports of entry and along porous border areas. This includes enhancing cooperation with neighbouring countries to tackle cross-border trafficking and illegal crossings,” he said. He also stressed the importance of collaboration with local safety structures.
“Several AfriForum neighbourhood and farm watch structures in border areas have been instrumental in patrolling South Africa’s porous borders,” Broodryk noted. “It is critical that authorities collaborate with these groups to strengthen border security and protect both South Africans and displaced individuals from exploitation.”