Border management resources at Cape Town International Airport have almost doubled as a result of a partnership between the Border Management Authority, the Western Cape government and the City of Cape Town with an additional 48 people seconded to assist in processing passengers.
Immigration capacity at the airport has steadily declined since 2019, when it stood at 82 permanent and 30 temporary staff, to 66 currently. As part of the new partnership, the city and Western Cape government will each contribute an additional 24 personnel to act as assistant port control officers. The Western Cape will contribute 24 interns trained as part of the Premier’s First Work Experience programme. The city’s seconded personnel will include law enforcement officers able to fulfil safety functions including search and seizure, arrests and detention.
The partnership was launched at the airport on August 18 and will run for a year.
“This visionary partnership is a vote of confidence in the Border Management Authority, which continues to make meaningful strides in improving border management despite severe resource constraints and a budget shortfall of R4.3 billion (US$243 million). In the face of these constraints, the Western Cape government and City of Cape Town have stepped up to boost immigration capacity at the airport to enhance national security while driving tourism growth and job creation in the city and province,” said Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber.
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde said the partnership is “in line with our regional economic strategy to grow tourist arrivals through various initiatives, including the Air Access programme, to add more direct flights, support small businesses and job creation while increasing capacity at this key port of entry. These young women and men will not only help give operations a boost, they will also serve as ambassadors for our province.”
In 2024, the airport recorded three million two-way international passengers with one million in December alone. ForwardKeys’ data shared by Cape Town Tourism forecasts a 4.6% increase in international arrivals at Cape Town International Airport between July and December.
Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said: “A smoother, faster experience at the airport means tourists get to Table Mountain before sunset and the tour guide in Langa does not lose his business due to airport delays. When we all pull together, the whole tourism economy benefits. That’s why we are glad to support this initiative to improve visitor experience, which is a key part of boosting the tourism economy and job creation over time,” said Hill-Lewis.
In 2023, Mark Maclean, Regional General Manager for Airports Company South Africa, cited immigration resources as one of the biggest hurdles the airport faces. Staff cuts resulted in average waiting times of 20 minutes, which is double the international standard waiting time.
Earlier this year, Border Management Authority Commissioner Michael Masiapato told Parliament that the agency is grossly understaffed, employing just 2 606 of the required 11 000 operational staff.
