Good morning to everyone present — our Deputy Commissioners, partners from both the public and private sectors, members of the border management community, the media, and all distinguished guests.

As the Border Management Authority (BMA), we are once again rolling out our Easter Festive Season Plan. This plan is designed to ensure the safe, secure, and smooth movement of people and goods across South Africa’s 71 ports of entry during the busy Easter period.

Easter is one of the busiest travel seasons in the country, and our goal is to strike the right balance between strong border enforcement and enabling legitimate travel, tourism, and trade.

This plan is backed by strong collaboration across government and security structures, including the Inter-ministerial Consultative Committee on Border Management, the Border Technical Committee, Natjoints, Provjoints, and other key partners in the border management system.

How the Plan Works

The Easter operational plan is divided into four phases:

Planning, Execution, Demobilisation, and Sustenance.

Planning Phase

Our planning phase began toward the end of the last festive season, running from early February 2026 and concluding on 30 March 2026.

Despite limited resources, we focused on strengthening partnerships to boost our capacity.

Key support includes:

The Western Cape Government, which has deployed about 50 officials to assist as Immigration Officers at Cape Town International Airport.

The Gauteng Provincial Government, which has provided 80 officers at OR Tambo International Airport.

To better protect vulnerable travellers, especially minors and victims of trafficking, we partnered with the Department of Social Development, which has deployed social workers to ports of entry across provinces.

We also continue working closely with the Department of Tourism, which has sent over 160 tourism safety officers to help manage traveller movement and improve safety within ports.

On infrastructure, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure is supporting operations by providing temporary lighting, sanitation facilities, barricades, and water tankers to improve conditions at ports and along transit routes.

Improving Road and Corridor Safety

Traffic authorities at national, provincial, and local levels will step up enforcement to ensure road safety and compliance during this high-traffic period.

Public and Private Sector Partnerships

Beyond government collaboration, we’ve strengthened partnerships with private sector players such as DCD Protected Mobility, Paramount Group, Aselsan South Africa, and Unipro Protective Wear. These partners are helping us deploy advanced surveillance, mobility, and protective technologies to modernize border operations.

In addition, Sanlam/Assupol will support the health and wellbeing of officials working in demanding border environments.

We also appreciate industry partners in the maritime and aviation sectors, including the South African Association of Freight Forwarders (SAFF) and the Association of Meat Importers and Exporters (AMIE), for their continued cooperation.

Regional Cooperation

At a regional level, we’ve held discussions with our six neighbouring countries — Lesotho, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia, eSwatini, and Botswana — to improve coordination and streamline border processes.

These engagements led to agreements to extend operating hours at selected ports of entry that do not run 24 hours a day. These extensions have been approved by the Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber, in his role as Chairperson of the Inter-ministerial Committee on Border Management.

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This comes after as the result of the ongoing deteriorating relationship between South Africa and USA which emanates from the allegations that were to President Donald Trump that the country was involve in white genocide.

Speaking to MDN News, founding member of Dungeon Trucking Vusimuzi Mbatha who hails from Ennerdale in Soweto in Johannesburg said that staying in the US at the moment was not conducive for them.

“We are under a microscope at the moment. Any missteps become their weapons while the Black South Africans in the US have not been supported in developing an empowered community that can defend itself unlike the other groups who are heavily supported by their home governments and industries,” he said.

“We are being let down by our own government who is not looking out for the interest of the Black South Africans. We are facing a situation where our own government back home is aware that most black South Africans are not getting their visas approved just because of the ongoing war of words because of the allegations that people are painting the picture that South Africa is a bad country to live. We are not different from the South Africans that are stuck in Ukraine. We have been in the forefront fighting for the Black Migrants in the US yet our government is giving us support that we need,” he said.

Another South African citizen Yoliswa Cele who has been living in the US for more than 10 years said that said that Afrophobia began during the first terms of Trump administration.

“This is also not new, South Africans have been raising concerns about the situation for over a decade. This is the fuel that helps drive the engine of actual violence from the minority operating out of xenophobia and hate. This is what makes the non-Xenophobic but very concerned majority begin to push for less friendly policies.

“We still have to be accountable to each other. South African immigration laws have been severely violated for over a decade, not to mention our social laws hence some of us no longer speak up when our fellow South Africans are harshly expressing their concerns and experiences,” she said.

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Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said on Sunday that the federal government plans to reassess TPS for Somalia, describing the programme as a temporary measure that has been in place for more than 30 years. According to her, TPS was designed to respond to major crises for a limited period, not to function as a long-term asylum pathway.

Her comments come just days after President Donald Trump declared that he would “immediately” revoke TPS protections for Somalis living in Minnesota. His announcement ignited widespread fear within Minnesota’s Somali community — the largest in the United States — and raised legal questions about whether the White House has the authority to implement such a targeted directive.

Advocates and immigration experts swiftly pushed back, saying the president cannot single out one group or one state for punitive action. They argued that the move was driven more by political rhetoric than policy, warning that it could fuel hostility toward Somali and Muslim residents at a time when Islamophobia is rising.

Although the rhetoric has created panic, the number of Somalis currently covered by TPS is very small — just over 700 nationwide. Most Somali Americans are either naturalized citizens or hold other forms of legal status. Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar emphasized this point, noting that the majority of Somali residents in the US would not be affected.

Still, community leaders say the danger lies beyond legal paperwork. They worry the announcement could embolden discrimination, especially after Trump claimed — without evidence — that Somali gangs were targeting Minnesota residents. Minnesota’s governor dismissed the allegations and pointed out that the state consistently ranks among the safest in the country.

The debate over Somalia’s TPS designation is part of a wider shift toward tougher immigration policies. The administration has already moved to roll back protections for Venezuelans, Haitians, Cubans, Syrians, and other groups previously allowed to live and work legally in the US.

Somalia’s TPS status remains valid until March 2026, meaning any decision to revoke it must be announced at least 60 days in advance. That gives the administration until mid-January to determine whether the designation will continue nationwide.

For now, Somali families in Minnesota and beyond are left waiting — and hoping — as political tensions rise around their future in the country many now call home.

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The decision comes after a group of 153 Palestinians arrived last week on a charter flight from Kenya. They had hoped to seek asylum, but were initially denied entry at OR Tambo International Airport because they lacked proper documents, including Israeli exit stamps and accommodation details. After spending nearly 12 hours at the airport, they were eventually allowed in under South Africa’s standard 90-day visa exemption on humanitarian grounds.

Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola said the government is now investigating the circumstances surrounding their arrival. He expressed suspicion about the organisation behind the flights, which appears to be unregistered and may have arranged travel in an irregular and unsafe manner.

Lamola said the situation suggests a coordinated effort to move Palestinians to different parts of the world — something South Africa strongly opposes if it contributes to forced displacement. According to him, similar flights have been sent to other countries, raising questions about whether this forms part of a broader agenda to remove Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank.

Authorities are specifically looking into the involvement of a group called Al-Majd Europe, which is believed to have helped organise the travel. Some officials and aid workers fear that the passengers may have been victims of human trafficking or part of a larger forced-migration pipeline using third countries as transit points.

It has also been revealed that the November flight was not the first. The charter operator confirmed that another flight carrying Palestinian passengers arrived from Nairobi in late October and entered South Africa without difficulty under the same visa exemption.

South Africa has long been vocal in its support for Palestinian rights and has taken legal action against Israel in international courts. The ongoing investigation reflects increasing concern that these flights may not be humanitarian missions, but rather part of a much wider and highly troubling operation.

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The group touched down at OR Tambo International Airport but were not allowed to disembark for more than 10 hours because their passports did not contain the usual departure stamps. Authorities were unsure how they had left Gaza or who arranged their travel.

Most of the passengers were later granted entry after humanitarian groups intervened and government officials stepped in on compassionate grounds. However, the route they took out of Gaza and the circumstances that placed them on the aircraft remain unclear, prompting calls for a full investigation.

According to South African officials, the group had flown through Nairobi before arriving in Johannesburg. Their documentation raised immediate red flags — many lacked clear departure records, return tickets or confirmed accommodation — leading immigration officers to initially deny them access into the country.

President Cyril Ramaphosa said he was alerted to the unfolding crisis while it was happening and insisted that the travellers could not simply be sent back. He described them as people fleeing “a strife-torn, war-torn place” who deserved compassion. He also promised a proper review of how the entire situation developed.

Once officials confirmed that the lack of stamps didn’t mean the travellers intended to apply for asylum, and that accommodation had been arranged, the group was cleared to enter the country. A local humanitarian organisation has since taken responsibility for housing them.

Civil society groups have demanded clarity on the travellers’ exact escape route from Gaza and whether they were misled by intermediaries. Some Palestinian representatives in South Africa have accused an unnamed organisation of exploiting desperate families by collecting money and arranging irregular travel.

For the families themselves, the relief was immediate. One man who arrived with his wife and two children said reaching South Africa felt like stepping into “a land of peace, laws and justice” after surviving daily bombardments.

Humanitarian workers say the group endured unnecessary hardship even after landing, including being kept on the tarmac for hours and struggling to access food that had been provided for them.

The incident comes at a time when South Africa continues to show strong support for Palestinians, a stance rooted in decades-long solidarity dating back to the anti-apartheid era. The country has been vocal about the suffering in Gaza and has seen large public demonstrations calling for an end to the conflict.

Of the original 153 passengers, 23 have already travelled on to other destinations, while 130 remain in South Africa as the investigation begins.

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This sharp reduction follows the previous cap of 125,000 set under former President Joe Biden. The official notice said the decision was made in the “national interest,” though it did not provide detailed justification.

In January, President Trump suspended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, claiming the move was necessary to safeguard national security and public safety. The policy shift has been widely viewed as part of a broader effort to reshape U.S. immigration and refugee strategy.

According to the announcement, the majority of available refugee slots will go to Afrikaner South Africans and others facing what the administration described as “illegal or unjust discrimination” in their home countries. Earlier this year, Trump offered to grant refuge to members of the Afrikaner community, sparking strong criticism from the South African government.

Tensions between Washington and Pretoria escalated further after President Trump accused South African President Cyril Ramaphosa of allowing white farmers to be “killed and persecuted.” The White House even showed misleading footage during a meeting with Ramaphosa, which was later revealed to depict a protest, not actual farm murders.

Refugee advocates have condemned the new U.S. policy, warning that it excludes other vulnerable populations, including those displaced by war and persecution in Afghanistan, Sudan, and Venezuela. Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, head of Global Refuge, said the move “lowers America’s moral standing” and undermines the country’s long-standing humanitarian values.

The South African government has denied claims of widespread persecution of white farmers, insisting that the situation is being distorted for political reasons.

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The decision follows a confrontation between immigration officers and protesters, during which officials said an armed woman was shot after allegedly ramming vehicles into law enforcement cars. She later drove herself to a hospital, and her condition remains unknown.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and other state leaders condemned the deployment, calling it an abuse of presidential power. They argued that the move exaggerates the situation in Chicago and undermines state authority.

A federal judge in Oregon recently blocked a similar deployment to Portland, ruling that using military force in U.S. cities without state consent violates constitutional boundaries and fuels unrest.

Despite Trump’s claims that violent crime in Chicago is spiraling, recent data from the Council on Criminal Justice shows homicides have decreased by about one-third compared to the previous year. Still, the city’s crime rate remains higher than the national average, with dozens of shootings reported during recent holiday weekends.

The White House defended the president’s decision, saying the deployment aims to protect federal officers and property. Trump, who has long criticized Democratic-led cities, said he plans to “straighten them out one by one” and suggested such deployments could serve as “training grounds” for U.S. troops to tackle domestic unrest.

Legal experts say the move is likely to face court challenges, as the use of National Guard forces for civilian law enforcement has strict legal limitations.

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So far, nearly 400 people have been detained, including 330 undocumented migrants. Among others arrested were individuals charged with assault, obstruction, and even attempted murder of a police officer. Two men face federal charges for hurling Molotov cocktails at officers.

The federal response has been forceful. Over 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines have been deployed to assist in crowd control, with some troops authorized to detain protesters until police arrive. Mayor Karen Bass defended the curfew, calling it a necessary move to halt looting and violence fueled by what she described as the president’s “chaotic escalation.”

Bass directly blamed President Donald Trump for provoking the crisis with sweeping immigration raids that sowed “fear and panic” among communities. She warned that Los Angeles is being used as a test case for federal overreach.

Tuesday night saw mass arrests after continued protests across the city. Police detained over 200 people for failure to disperse, and several others for violating curfew, carrying firearms, or assaulting officers. Two law enforcement officers were injured during confrontations.

Despite the military’s limited authority to make arrests, National Guard troops have been assisting with detentions during protests and immigration operations. Major General Scott Sherman confirmed that some troops have been trained specifically to support these raids.

The White House has defended the crackdown. Trump described the unrest as “a full-blown assault on peace and public order” and vowed to “use every asset at our disposal.” He accused California officials of failing to maintain control, while Governor Gavin Newsom responded by calling the federal intervention “a brazen abuse of power” and a direct threat to democracy.

The Pentagon revealed the military deployment will cost approximately $134 million. Trump, who has made mass deportations a central theme of his re-election campaign, has set a target of 3,000 arrests per day by immigration officers.

With tensions still high, officials in both Washington and California are bracing for continued clashes — and possibly more protests in other states.

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The unrest has led to several troubling scenes: cars set ablaze, reports of looting, and journalists caught in the crossfire. A British photojournalist was seriously injured and required surgery after being hit by a sponge bullet. An Australian reporter was also shot with a non-lethal round while covering the protest live on the scene.

President Donald Trump weighed in from Washington, describing the situation in LA as dire. “Things look really bad in LA,” he said. “Bring in the troops!” His call for military involvement comes despite objections from California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, who has opposed the deployment of the National Guard.

Reporting from the city, noted that while Sunday night was slightly calmer than the violent scenes of the previous day, the tension in the air remained thick. Meanwhile, Reporters captured a frightening moment on camera—footage of a car speeding through a group of protesters, sending people running for their lives.

As the city braces for what may come next, many Angelenos are left hoping for peace and accountability amid the chaos.

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Stephen Miller, one of President Trump’s top aides, told reporters Friday that the White House is “actively looking at” the option. He argued that the U.S. Constitution permits such a suspension during times of “rebellion or invasion.” His comments come amid a wave of immigration-related detentions, including cases involving foreign students who have expressed dissenting views.

Miller suggested that the courts’ willingness to support the administration’s actions would influence their decision. “It depends on whether the courts do the right thing or not,” he said.

Several civil cases have already been filed, challenging the detention of undocumented immigrants and students under the habeas corpus principle. One such case involved a Turkish university student who was held for six weeks after writing an article critical of Israel. A judge eventually ordered his release. Another Columbia University student, detained for pro-Palestinian activism, was also released after a habeas corpus petition.

While some courts have pushed back against these detentions, others have sided with the administration. Miller referred to habeas corpus as a “privilege,” claiming that Congress had already stripped the courts of power over immigration matters — a statement legal experts were quick to challenge.

“Congress has the authority to suspend habeas corpus — not Stephen Miller, and not the president,” said Democratic attorney Marc Elias.

President Trump has not publicly endorsed the suspension, but reports from CNN indicate he has been personally involved in discussions. In recent statements, Trump hinted at “very strong” ways to overcome judicial roadblocks, alluding vaguely to precedents set by past presidents.

Historically, habeas corpus has only been suspended four times in U.S. history: by Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War, in Hawaii after Pearl Harbor, in early 20th-century Philippines, and during Reconstruction in response to Ku Klux Klan violence. In each case, the power was exercised during extreme national crises and often controversially.

This potential move would be unprecedented in modern U.S. history and is already intensifying an ongoing debate about the balance between national security, immigration enforcement, and civil liberties.

Critics argue that even under the guise of national emergency, such a suspension would erode one of the oldest protections in American democracy.

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