Johannesburg,South Africa

President Cyril Ramaphosa has officially launched the Border Management Authority(BMA) as one of the state-organ that will be responsible for border management at Musina Show Grounds,Limpopo.

The government of the Republic established the BMA with an intention of trying to bring order in the borders which are not well-controlled and managed.

During the launch,President Ramaphosa was accompanied by his cabinet ministers who are responsible for defense,home affairs,international relations and cooperation and other government officials.

He mentioned that the establishment of that authority would help to manage the borders with ease and guarantee the safety of South Africans.

"We are gathering here today to witness the fulfillment of a commitment to establish a single,integrated and efficient authority to manage and secure the borders of the Republic.

"As South Africans,we seek to live in peace and harmony with each other and with our neighbours.We seek a better life,free from fear and want,"said President Ramaphosa.

He emphasized that the existence of that authority would minimise the movement of illegal goods and promotes lawful trade with other neighbouring countries.

"When our country's ports of entry and borders are well-protected and well-managed,we are able to prevent the illegal importation and exit of goods.

"We are able to facilitate lawful trade at a greater scale and more efficiently.This is becoming increasingly important as we work with other countries in our region and elsewhere on the continent to increase intra-African trade.

"We see the Border Management Authority as a vital link in our efforts to harness the benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area,"he added.

Over the years,South African borders had experience a huge influx of legal and illegal immigrants who came here to seek a better life as most of African immigrants sees as beacon of hope.

Millions of illegal immigrants crosses to South Africa using the Beitbridge Port of Entry which links it with Zimbabwe and smuggling of goods such as cigarettes,foods and many more occurs there.

An influx of immigrants has worsened the economic challenges faced by South Africa and its own citizens,immigrants are used as cheap labour by employers and that angers locals.

South Africa suffers a huge unemployment rate in the world as it stands above 40% and most of those unemployed are youth.

Ramaphosa confirmed that he met with his Zimbabwean counterpart President Emmerson Mnangagwa where they discussed important matters that affects both countries and the region.

"Earlier today,I visited the Beit Bridge Border Post with my counterpart from Zimbabwe,President Emmerson Mnangagwa,and we agreed that the establishment of the Border Management Authority will be an important tool for the development of the region.

"It will form part of integrating border management activities in the SADC region as we implement the African Continental Free Trade Area.We will be able to work towards eradicating various forms of red tape that are hindering trade,investment and the movement of persons,"Ramaphosa continued.

He said the Border Management Authority will be redeveloping six ports of entries as one-stop-border-posts.This approach will improve efficiency at land border crossings by combining the stops required for processing exit and entry formalities.

The deployment of the first border guards was started on July this year especially in those vulnerable segments of border line.

The BMA is now the third armed service in the country after South African National Defence Force and the South African Police Service.