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S. Africa ready for Easter holiday at ports of entry: minister

Xinhua, April 2, 2015 Adjust font size:

South African Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba on Wednesday announced the state of readiness at ports of entry for the upcoming Easter holiday, one of the busiest times to feature in the annual programme of the Department of Home Affairs (DHA).

In preparation for the effective and efficient facilitation of movement of persons and goods during the Easter period, the DHA has extended operational hours at selected ports of entry where an increase in traveller movement is anticipated, Gigaba told a press briefing in Pretoria.

"As part of the preparations, we have deployed 127 additional staff to the ports of entry, to enhance service delivery levels."

To ensure the success of this operation, key stakeholders at the various ports of entry as well as countries sharing borders with South Africa have been engaged and accordingly agreed on the dates to effect the extended operational hours, said the minister.

Among others things, due to the massive pilgrimage of members of the Zionist Christian Church over the Easter weekend, the DHA commenced consultation with the churches to ensure that movement across borders in general and Groblers Bridge on the South Africa- Botswana border in particular is smooth, he said.

"We have encouraged people to travel gradually over the entire period rather than on a single day; this was also for reasons of safety on the roads."

During last year's Easter weekend from April 17 to April 22, the South African Immigration Services processed a total of 754, 616 travellers at South Africa's national ports of entry – land, sea and airports. This figure comprised 535, 960 foreigners and 218,000 South Africans.

"On behalf of the Ministry and Department of Home Affairs, I would like to inform citizens and all our clients, we are ready swiftly, and with the highest level of professionalism, efficiency and effectiveness, to process all travellers in and out of South Africa," Gigaba said. Endi