Beitbridge (H5)

Name:Beitbridge

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Beit Bridge, twelve kilometres away from Musina lies the Alfred Beit Bridge.This bridge spanningthe Limpopo River between South Africa and Zimbabwe, was built in 1929. More than two million people passthrough Beit Bridge annually, as it is the only direct route and gateway to Zimbabwe and most African coun-tries. This makes the bridge, the busiest port of entry in the country. The SAPS personnel who are stationed at Beit Bridge fall under Protection and Security Services. The function of Ports of Entry Security was transferred to the Protectionand Security Service Division in October 2004. Snr Supt Radzilani has since been appointed as the commander at Beit Bridge.The SAPS is mainly respon-sible for policing, security andcrime prevention at this portof entry. One of the challenges facing the members is stemming the constant flow of illegal immigrants attempting to enter South Africa. Organized crime involving stolen vehicles, commercial crime and illegal foreigners entering the country is on the rise. As there is a huge market for stolen vehicles, syndicates try to cross the border to Zimbabwe at Beit Bridge at all costs. Drivers are suppliedwith fraudulent registration and travelling documents, as- gateway to Zimbabwe well as permission letters. The Vehicle IdentificationService Unit is responsiblefor investigating all vehicles suspected of having been stolen that are recovered at the light motor vehicle and commercial vehicle checkpoints.According to Director Makushu of Limpopo PSS,the geographical layout ofthe port of entry is a majorchallenge as it allows for trav-ellers to mix, and arrivals anddepartures are not separated.The Beit Bridge port of entryo perates 24 hours a day andmembers perform eight-hourshift duties. The Port of Entryis divided into six sectors.Members are posted to per-form duties at different sec-tors on a rotational basis.This is to ensure that allmembers develop skills in allenvironments at the port ofentry. Members are alsoresponsible for inner andouter perimeter control.Director Makushu explainedthat the Limpopo River is dif-ficult to cross when it is inflood, which forces smugglersand illegal foreigners to enterSouth Africa through the portof entry. In the dry season,smuggling across the borderbecomes a major challenge.A total of 227 student consta-bles were recruited to bedeployed specifically at BeitBridge. This was done afterthey completed their basictraining. Beit Bridge will, infuture also have an investiga-tive capacity and a Dog Unit.This unit will have dogs andhandlers trained in detectingexplosives and narcotics. Thedeployment of the 227 mem-bers has helped reduce crimesuch as theft out of motorvehicles and pickpocketingdramatically. Other futuremechanisms include theintroduction of a state-of-the-art control room with a CCTVsystem to monitor the activi-ties at the port of entry.Specialized technology isbeing tested in a pilot projectto determine whether itshould be purchased.Director Makushu added thatthe infrastructure on the N1and the ports of entry pres-ents a challenge to policingduring festive seasons asthere can be more than 12 000 travellers a day. Themanual searching of contain-ers is time consuming and600 to 1 000 heavy vehiclescross the border daily.Over the past two years theSAPS at Beit Bridge port ofentry were awarded ServiceExcellence Awards by theLimpopo MEC for Safety,Security and Liaison, inrecognition of the best prac-tices at the POE in terms ofarrests and seizures.

The Limpopo river that flows along South Africa, Zimabwe, Mozambique and Botswana. The searching of motor vehicles at the North Gate Over the past two years the SAPS at Beit Bridge port of entry were awarded Service Excellence Awards by the Limpopo MEC for Safety, Security and Liaison

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