From crumbling to cutting-edge: SA’s top six ports of entry set for total rebuild

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28-04-2026
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Lebombo, Beitbridge, Oshoek, Kopfontein, Maseru Bridge, and Ficksburg are the busiest ports of entry into South Africa accounting for 80 percent of entries to the country. Those six ports are set to be demolished and transformed entirely.

This is according to Minister of Home Affairs, Leon Schreiber, who spoke at the naming of the six private firms who will do the demolishing and rebuilding of these ports of entry.

“This project, worth an estimated R12.5 billion, constitutes the single biggest investment ever made by the South African government in upgrading our country’s border management system,” said the minister.

These ports of entry are infamous, with travellers often made to endure endless queues that can last for days. This is caused by outdated infrastructure and systems that resemble a cracked egg rather than a whole functioning system.

This means that it’s harder for authorities to police the border as these weaknesses allow for illegal migration, illicit trade, and other ills that have an impact on the country. Considering that these six ports account for 80 percent of traffic into the country, improving security is of the utmost importance.

“Enhanced surveillance, improved infrastructure, and integrated data systems will allow for more targeted and effective enforcement,” said Schreiber.

The minister added that by reducing border clearance times by just five percent, intra-regional exports rise by 10 percent, which is vital for the country.

The upgrade of these facilities will be completed through public-private partnerships with the following six firms announced as the winning bidders on this project:

• Beitbridge – Baobab Concession (construction over three years)
• Lebombo – Raulex Consortium (construction over three years)
• Oshoek – Baobab Concession (construction over two years)
• Maseru Bridge – Korong Consortium (construction over two years)
• Kopfontein – Kopfontein Consortium (construction over two years)
• Ficksburg – Imbani Consortium (construction over two years)

The construction of these new ports of entry will take a phased approach, likely to avoid a total shutdown of the port of entry. Communities surrounding the ports of entry will be engaged as the construction work will create jobs and stimulate economic development over the next few years. This engagement will also seek to understand the pressure points these communities face and how these overhauls will affect them.

Unfortunately it wasn’t revealed which firms will lead the digital transformation efforts Schreiber mentioned in his speech.

The Border Management Authority says that it has made every effort to ensure this process was fair and equitable and that malfeasance isn’t likely to occur. Of course, the proof of that pudding is in the eating, so we hope that rings true.

“By prioritising these six ports for a complete overhaul, the likes of which we have not seen before, we are working with determination to exploit 80 percent of the economic opportunities on offer, while solving 80 percent of the challenges we face in this environment,” said Schreiber.

We hope that this process flows smoothly and that locals, international travellers, and traders can cross the border legally with ease once these improvements are complete.