The inaugural Border Management Conference and Expo 2024 took place at the CSIR International Convention Centre on Wednesday 13 November.
The conference was opened by the Honourable Minister of Home Affairs Dr. Leon Schreiber who also chairs the BMA Inter-Ministerial Consultative Committee. Minister Schreiber emphasised the priorities of ethics, digital transformation and economic benefits for all who move through our border posts.
Border Management Authority Commissioner Dr. Michael Masiapato set the tone by introducing the BMA to delegates as a holistic authority that administers South Africa’s borders and carries out the mandates and policies of the government departments that are relevant to border activities.
Keynote addresses and presentations by Global Command and Control Technologies, the Institute of Security Studies, the Special Investigating Unit, NEC XON, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, ACSA, Vumacam and the AMD were complimented by panel discussions addressing the three broad themes, namely:
- Cross border trade and economic growth
- Security against cyber and fiduciary threats
- Combatting smuggling and human trafficking
As communicated by the minister, technology remained a discussion point within the forums as did the importance of identifying and apprehending the movement of illicit people and goods through our borders.
But it was the theme of public private partnerships that was the overall talking point and how the private sector can play a role in providing complimentary services to bolster the initiatives of the BMA in effective and efficient border control.
Partners in the conference with the BMA included GC2T, DCD Protected Mobility, Conqueror Off Road, Paramount and Vumacam.
