National

MBABANE – Eswatini and South Africa are enhancing their security cooperation with new, traceable passport stamps to curb cross-border crime.

The new stamps, which came into effect on August 1, 2025, and are implemented by the South African border side, carry advanced security features and are traceable to individual immigration officers, making it significantly harder for criminal networks to manipulate entry and exit records.

The Commissioner of South Africa’s Border Management Authority, Dr Michael Masiapato, revealed during the meeting with the Eswatini-South Africa Steering Committee last Thursday in Badplaas, Mpumalanga, that the old stamps had been alarmingly easy to counterfeit, with fraudsters able to purchase replicas at ordinary stationery shops.

“Ports such as Lubombo, Beitbridge, Maseru and Oshoek had become particularly exposed to scams involving illegal stamping of passports,” he explained.

By introducing the new system, each stamp is now linked to a unique officer number, enabling authorities to trace back any fraudulent entry directly to the responsible official.

“This shift has been helpful in ensuring that passports are no longer compromised. If someone stamps a passport illegally, we can trace it to their number and deal with them accordingly,” he said.

The move has been hailed by the steering committee as a turning point in efforts to close loopholes that criminals and syndicates have long exploited.

In recent years, security officials at the ports of entry between the two jurisdictions have grappled with cases of human trafficking, undocumented migration and the smuggling of contraband goods.

With fraudulent stamping a common entry point for these crimes, according to Dr Masiapato, officials believe the tougher system will reduce opportunities for corruption and help restore trust in border controls.

However, the stamps are just one piece of a broader strategy. Criminals have been known to commit offences in one jurisdiction and then flee across the border to evade capture, exploiting gaps in communication and coordination between agencies.

The bilateral Border Management Steering Committee  reaffirmed that closing these gaps is now a top priority. During discussions, it was highlighted that risk management systems have been introduced and there is a stronger emphasis on the sharing of information between border posts and law enforcement agencies.  The commissioner noted that cooperation has already borne fruit, with fewer cases of undetected illegal crossings being reported.

Technology is also becoming part of the solution. The commissioner highlighted that their Eswatini counterparts have been exploring the use of drones illegally outside of their jurisdiction.

While security is central to the bilateral agenda, the steering committee highlighted that the reforms are equally focused on improving efficiency and reducing bottlenecks that have long plagued border posts.

It was stated that business leaders and transporters have repeatedly raised concerns about long delays in moving cargo across the border, especially at Lubombo and Oshoek, where queues of freight trucks stretched for kilometres.

Dr Masiapato indicated that at times, truck drivers were forced to wait up to three hours on the N17 corridor before crossing into Eswatini.

Now, through joint interventions and better coordination, that waiting time has been cut to around 20 minutes, a development the commissioner described as proof that practical improvements are possible when both sides work together.

Full article available in our publication.

The Commissioner of South Africa’s Border Management Authority, Dr Michael Masiapato. (Pic: News24)