South Africa sees over 1 mln travelers during Easter holiday

JOHANNESBURG, April 14 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's Border Management Authority (BMA) said Sunday that a total of 1,136,250 travelers passed through the country's 71 ports of entry during this year's Easter holiday.

The figure represents an increase of 24 percent when compared with the same holiday last year, BMA Commissioner Michael Masiapato said at a media briefing. This year's Easter period ran from March 26 to April 4.

The OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, the Lebombo port of entry to Mozambique, and Beitbridge port of entry to Zimbabwe are the top three ports that processed the majority of travelers with a total of 528,042 individuals, said Masiapato.

The BMA had deployed more than 400 junior border guards at some critical land ports to assist in facilitating the movement of travelers, which gave a boost to the country's tourism, he said.

A total of 3,841 people attempting to enter South Africa illegally during the Easter period were intercepted, according to Masiapato.

"The majority of those arrested without documents were intercepted at the vulnerable segments of the borderline. They were processed, declared undesirable for five years, and were deported," he said. ■