Travelling this Easter? what you need to know about South Africa’s busy borders

Expect record crowds at land and air ports

If you’re planning a getaway this Easter, brace yourself: South Africa’s borders are gearing up for a surge in travellers that could see some ports handling more than 25,000 people a day.

According to IOL , Border Management Authority (BMA) Commissioner Michael Masiapato says this year’s Easter traffic is expected to exceed normal volumes, with Thursday, April 2, marking the peak for departures and Monday, April 6, for returns.

“Easter is tricky because everything converges at once,” Masiapato told reporters. “We expect double the baseline traffic at our busiest entry points.”

For context, last year OR Tambo International Airport, OR Tambo International Airport, Lebombo, and Beitbridge together processed over 514,000 travellers during the 10-day peak, with OR Tambo alone seeing 220,000 passengers.

Extended hours to ease congestion

To manage the spike, the BMA has extended operating hours at key land borders. Some highlights:

Botswana:

• Groblersbrug: 24-hour operations on April 2, 5–6; midnight closures April 3–4
• Kopfontein: 24-hour operations April 2 and 5

Mozambique:

• Lebombo: already 24/7
• Kosi Bay: extended to 6 am–6 pm from March 27 to April 10

Eswatini:

• Golela: open until 10 pm April 2–3 and 5–6
• Mananga: until 9 pm April 1–2 and 5–6

Lesotho:

• Sani Pass: closes at 7 pm instead of 6 pm April 1–2
• Caledonspoort & Van Rooyens Gate: 24-hour April 2, midnight April 5–6
• Maseru Bridge: open until 6 pm April 2, 3, 5, 6

The Easter operation runs 10 days, from March 31 to April 9, split into a departure phase (March 31–April 4) and a return phase (April 5–9).

What travellers need to know

Masiapato emphasised strict compliance and security measures:

• Valid passports required: only machine-readable passports will be processed.
• Travel with minors: parents or guardians must have the correct affidavits or written consent from the child’s other parent.
• No corruption tolerated: BMA officials and travellers attempting to bypass procedures face immediate consequences; over 50 officials lost their jobs last year for such infractions.

The BMA will also deploy high-visibility personnel and rapid-response teams, prioritising elderly travellers, those with disabilities, and families with children.

Social media chatter and public sentiment

On platforms like Twitter and Facebook, travellers are sharing both excitement and frustration. Many are planning early departures to beat the queues, while others are concerned about long waits at land ports.

Some users highlighted last year’s delays at Beitbridge and Lebombo, prompting calls for better queue management and real-time updates. The BMA has responded with assurances of improved processing and a 10-day operational plan to smooth traffic.

Beyond Easter: preparing for future peaks

Masiapato said the authority is already looking ahead, including preparations for the 46th SADC Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government later this year. After Easter, the BMA will enter a structured demobilisation phase, reviewing performance and lessons learned to improve future operations.

“The goal is safe, efficient travel while keeping our borders secure,” Masiapato said. “Easter is just one part of a year-round effort to manage the country’s entry and exit points effectively.”

Pro tip for travellers: plan your journey around peak days, carry all legal documents, and allow extra time for border checks. With extended hours and reinforced operations, the BMA is making every effort to keep South Africans moving, but preparation is still your best ally this Easter.@SABCNews