How much it costs to be smuggled into South Africa – Newsday

Border Management Authority (BMA) Commissioner Dr Michael Masiapato has said that facilitating illegal border crossings is proving to be a lucrative business, with smugglers charging R400 per person.

These criminal smugglers, known as Goma Gomas, often use the Limpopo River as a point of entry into South Africa.

“Those are the ringleaders who facilitate the trade. For instance, they charge people R400 to be facilitated through the Limpopo River,” Masiapato said.

“And if they put 40 people in a boat at R400 per person, it can be a very lucrative business. That is why, when we arrest them, we ensure they are entered into the system. In other words, we take them to court.”

While offering migrants a service, Goma Gomas often exploit undocumented people crossing the border, frequently robbing them and raping women, knowing they will be unable to report these crimes to the police or risk deportation.

Masiapato said that in April 2025, 114 Goma Gomas were arrested thanks to the implementation of the BMA’s new drone technology.

However, according to a report from the Daily Maverick, several informal settlements on the Zimbabwean side of the river have made it more difficult for South African authorities to crack down on smuggling and illegal immigration.

A source from a village on the South African side of the river told the publication that these villages, such as Ha Tshirundu, serve as overnight stops for migrants as they prepare to cross the border.

These settlements also serve as stops for Goma Gomas who smuggle goods into Zimbabwe due to the country’s hyperinflation, providing a source of survival for many Zimbabweans.

Additionally, the drying up of the river and a poorly maintained border fence sometimes make crossing into South Africa easier.

The guarding of South Africa’s borders was previously the mandate of the South African National Defence Force. However, part of this responsibility has been given to the BMA following its establishment in 2023.

Masiapato revealed that authorities intercepted 25 undocumented foreigners attempting to cross the Limpopo into South Africa. Another 92 were intercepted at the Beitbridge border crossing between South Africa and Zimbabwe.

The BMA made over 8,000 arrests for illegal entry attempts in the second quarter of the 2025/26 financial year.

BMA funding shortfall

Dr Michael Masiapato, BMA Commissioner

Despite these successes, South Africa’s Border Management Authority (BMA) remains severely underfunded and understaffed, leaving South Africa’s borders vulnerable to illegal entries.

This is according to Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee and Portfolio Committee on Defence, which visited South Africa’s Limpopo borders and found that they are “effectively open”.

The visit focused on illegal cross-border trade and travel in the Limpopo border areas near Musina.

The committee stated that it was “worrying” that government departments and entities responsible for border management are not collaborating to find lasting solutions to South Africa’s porous borders.

It was discovered that only 15 military companies were patrolling the borders, when there should be 22. Even the 15 companies that are present are struggling due to staff shortages, a lack of vehicles, and outdated technology.

The South African National Defence Force stated that it lacks the manpower to properly monitor the extensive borders shared with Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Mozambique.

Informal settlements along the Limpopo River make border patrol more difficult, as some residents are aiding illegal crossings.

The committee observed damaged fencing and saw areas where illegal crossings regularly occur. Soldiers stationed in these areas said there were too few of them to effectively monitor and respond to the constant flow of border jumpers.

A R40 million project to repair the fence was in place, but was cancelled after an investigation by the Special Investigating Unit.

According to the SANDF, South Africa is currently losing about R28 billion per year due to the illegal cigarette trade.

Approximately 30,000 vehicles are believed to cross between South Africa and its neighbouring countries per year.

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