Drones Help South Africa Capture 25 Zimbabwean Border Jumpers

Twenty-five people have been arrested for trying to cross illegally from Zimbabwe into South Africa at the Beitbridge Port of Entry in Limpopo.

The Border Management Authority (BMA) confirmed the arrests, saying operations to clamp down on illegal border crossings are ongoing.

BMA Head Commissioner Michael Masiapato said the suspects were caught with the help of drone technology. Said Masiapato:

“We were able to see them as they were crossing the Limpopo River, being assisted by some facilitators through a boat, and they entered into no man’s land.

“Immediately when they entered South African soil, we were able to bust them, and we effectively got them arrested.”

“Instead of just doing the patrols on the road, what we basically do is we just monitor them as they come through.

“Immediately after they exit the banks of the river, they exit from what we call the no man’s land, and they ultimately enter our territory.

“That is the point where we are going to do the interception…

“These people are not even aware that we are monitoring them, and they think that they are now in, but effectively, they are going to be intercepted, brought into the port, and we are going to process them for deportation.