Using Technology to Address Cross Border Crime and Illegal Migration: The Case of South Africa
Victor H. Mlambo
University of Johannesburghttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-7705-8863
Toyin C. Adetiba
University of Zululandhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0414-9289
Xolani Thusi
University of Zululandhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7316-6165
Abstract
The 1996 Constitution of South Africa includes the right of every South African to freedom and security. It is the government’s responsibility to guarantee that national security is maintained and that residents within the limits of South African borders are protected. Based on this assumption, the issue of border management and migration regulations is presumed to be critical. Poor border management and unregulated migration jeopardise national security and endanger residents’ freedom and security. This article contends that South Africa’s inadequate border control and unrestrained migration have jeopardised the country’s national security. As a result of the inadequacy of border control in South Africa, South Africans have resorted to various xenophobic actions, with many foreign nationals losing their lives in the process. This article examines the current policy responses to migration and security at border crossings and what has gone wrong in South African border management. A qualitative research technique was used to fulfil the goals of this paper.
Keywords:
borders, crime, migration, security, technologyReferences
Baker, D. P., & Jordaan, E. (Eds.). (2010). South Africa and contemporary counterinsurgency: Roots, practices, prospects. Juta and Company Ltd. Cape Town.
Google Scholar
Bassey, C. & Oshita, O. eds. (2010). Governance & border security in Africa. African Books Collective. Oxford
Google Scholar
BusinessTech. (2020, May 28). South Africa’s army is in a ‘critical state of decline’ – here’s how bad things are right now. https://businesstech.co.za/news/government/402571/south-africas-army-is-in-a-critical-state-of-decline-heres-how-bad-things-are-right-now/
Google Scholar
Department of Home Affairs. (2015, October 20). Border Management Agency (Bma) Project Overview. https://pmg.org.za/files/151020BMA_Project.pdf
Google Scholar
Dodson, B. (2000). Porous borders: Gender and migration in Southern Africa. South African Geographical Journal, 82(1), 40-46.
Google Scholar
Engelbrecht, L. (2009, July 6). DA questions SANDF’s readiness. https://www.defenceweb.co.za/sa-defence/sa-defence-sa-defence/da-questions-sandfs-readiness/
Google Scholar
Esterhuyse, A. (2017, July 19). Money has little to do with why South Africa’s military is failing to do its job. https://theconversation.com/money-has-little-to-do-with-why-south-africas-military-is-failing-to-do-its-job-81216
Google Scholar
Laine, J. P. (2018). The ethics of bordering: a critical reading of the refugee ‘crisis’. CROSS, 31. In: How to Deal with Refugees? Europe as a Continent of Dreams. LIT Verlag: Berlin
Google Scholar
Lennep, T. (2019, September 18). Migration IV: The state of SA’s borders. https://www.politicsweb.co.za/opinion/migration-iv-the-state-of-south-africas-borders.
Google Scholar
Longo, M. (2017). The politics of borders: sovereignty, security, & the citizen after 9/11. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge
Google Scholar
Ndlazi, S. (2018, October 18). R50bn needed by SANDF to protect borders. IOL: https://www.iol.co.za/pretoria-news/r50bn-needed-by-s&f-to-protect-borders-17550387
Google Scholar
Nsereko, D. D. N. (1997). When crime crosses borders: A Southern African perspective. Journal of African Law, 41(2), 192-200.
Google Scholar
Parliamentary Monitoring Group. (2011, November 07). Borderline & Border Post Security Assessment by Departments of Police, Defense, Home Affairs, SARS, National Treasury. PMG. https://pmg.org.za/committee-meeting/13700/.
Google Scholar
Parliamentary Monitoring Group. (2010, February 16). Border Control: briefing by Chief of Joint Operations, South African National Defence Force (SANDF). PMG. https://pmg.org.za/committee-meeting/9187/.
Google Scholar
Parliamentary Monitoring Group. (2011, November, 07). Borderline & Border Post Security Assessment by Departments of Police, Defense, Home Affairs, SARS, National Treasury. PMG. https://pmg.org.za/committee-meeting/13700/.
Google Scholar
Parliamentary Monitoring Group. (2018, April, 24). Border Management Authority Bill [B9B-2016]: deliberations. PMG. https://pmg.org.za/committee-meeting/13700/.
Google Scholar
Parliamentary Monitoring Group. (2018, February, 20) Border Management Authority Bill: National Treasury, SARS & SANDF concerns. PMG. https://pmg.org.za/committee-meeting/13700/.
Google Scholar
Parliamentary monitoring group. (2019, October 29). Impact of illegal migration on cities: input from Joburg & Ekurhuleni Mayors, SALGA & Minister. https://pmg.org.za/committee-meeting/29125/.
Google Scholar
Steinberg, J. (2005). An overview of South African border control: 1994-2004. Institute for Security Studies Papers, 2005(103), 16.
Google Scholar
Tati, G. (2008). The immigration issues in the post-apartheid South Africa: Discourses, policies and social repercussions. Space populations societies, (2008/3), 423-440.
Google Scholar
The South African Police service. (2016). Border Security: Factors that influence cross-border criminal activities: A South African reality and feasible alternatives. https://www.saps.gov.za/resource_centre/publications/maj_gen_kr_meetsi_presentation.pdf.
Google Scholar
Statistics
Downloads
License
Copyright (c) 2022 Border and Regional Studies
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
