Thabang Matanye Mokonyane from Mokopane in Limpopo went to Zimbabwe with his girlfriend Khathutshelo Mbedzi, whose father is Zimbabwean and mother South African to visit her family since it was a festive season.

Mokonyane is the son of Mokgadi Tryphina Mokonyane.

According to the Forum for South Africa (FOSA) they have been approached regarding the matter of Mokonyane.

“Thabang had travelled to Zimbabwe with his girlfriend, Khathutshelo and the family became concerned on 1 January after losing contact with him. It was later confirmed that his lifeless body was found hanged on a tree and is currently being kept at a mortuary in Zimbabwe,” the statement reads.

FOSA further said the family is devastated, financially distressed and unable to repatriate the body to South Africa for burial.

“They are appealing for urgent assistance to ensure that their loved one is brought home and laid to rest with dignity. The family has further expressed serious concerns regarding the circumstances surrounding Thabang Mokonyane’s death and is requesting that the matter be handled with transparency and urgency by the relevant authorities.

FOSA was contacted yesterday (Sunday) to assist the family and to escalate the matter to the appropriate stakeholders.

FOSA called on Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), The South African High Commission in Zimbabwe and the relevant law enforcement and consular services to intervene without delay.

“They must assist the family with repatriation processes and ensure that the circumstances of the death are properly attended to. We appeal to community members, organisations.and good Samaritans who may be able to support the family during this painful time.No family should be left helpless and stranded in grief across borders,” the statement reads.

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The Commissioner of the BMA, Dr Michael Masiapato, has provided a report on high traveller movement.

Masiapato is currently overseeing operations at the Beitbridge Port of Entry and has ensured that additional resources and operational support have been deployed across other ports of entry nationwide.

He said this is done to manage the increased volumes, multiple processing and interception points have been established at all major ports.

Beitbridge continues to lead with high number volumes in land borders with over 22483 processed on 03 January alone.

At Beitbridge, elevated volumes have been largely driven by the simultaneous arrival of buses from Malawi, Zimbabwe and Zambia mainly and the processing were managed through established border control protocols.

In response to long queues and extreme heat conditions, the BMA has prioritised small children, the elderly and vulnerable travellers.

He said that any traveller presenting signs of illness is assessed by the BMA Port Health officials to prevent the importation of infectious and communicable diseases.

In just two days, 1 and 2 January 2026, the BMA intercepted more than 546 travellers at various ports of entry across the country, the majority of whom were undocumented.

Masiapato said these interceptions affirm that border management systems, deployments, and enforcement mechanisms remain active, responsive, and effective.

He said all undocumented persons intercepted were processed in line with South Africa’s immigration laws, with immediate deportation processes initiated.

In addition to immigration enforcement, the BMA has intensified agricultural, food safety, and biosecurity controls.

“While the Authority operates under limited resources, BMA officers remain fully deployed, vigilant, and committed to defending the Republic’s borders. Daily interceptions, refusals of entry, confiscations, and enforcement actions confirm that illegal entry and prohibited movements are being detected and decisively addressed,” he said.

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