More staff, longer hours for ports of entry

A total of 154 additional staff will also be deployed to some ports of entry - 55 to the Maseru, 78 to the Lebombo and 21 to the KwaZulu-Natal ports of entry - as of today. Assessments of other ports of entry indicated that the current staff complement was sufficient.

"In addition, we are pleased to announce that in preparation for an effective and efficient movement facilitation of persons during the festive season, the stakeholders at ports of entry and the countries sharing borders with South Africa have agreed to an extension of operating hours," said Home Affairs Deputy Director-General Jackie McKay on Thursday.

The Lebombo, Oshoek and Catedonspoort ports of entry are operating for 24 hours from 1 December and this will continue until 16 January 2012.

Other ports of entry in Mpumalanga, Free State and Eastern Cape have also extended their operating hours.

In Mpumalanga, the Mahamba port of entry will operate from 7am to midnight, Mananga from 7am to 8pm and Jeppes Reef from 7am to 10pm from 22 to 24 December.

The Calendonspoort and Van Rooyens Gate ports of entry in the Free State will be open from 6am to midnight over specified periods.

The port of entry at Quacha's Nek in the Eastern Cape will operate from 6am to 10pm from 22 to 24 December; Gacha's Nek will operate from 6am to 10pm on Christmas Day; while Tellebridge will open from 6am to 8pm from 17 to 25 December.

If you are travelling via any other SA ports of entry, here are their contact details.