Border crossing rises

28 December 2010 - 11:12 By Sapa
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December 2010 has seen the volume of people crossing the country's borders increase by 11 percent compared to 2009, the department of home affairs said on Monday.

"The total traveller movement recorded on the movement control system between 1 to 23 December 2010, was 2,650,090," said departmental spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa.

This consisted of 179,4950 foreigners and 855,140 South Africans moving across borders.

This compared to 2009 when a total of 2,387,613 people crossed over border posts -- consisting of 164,3134 foreigners and 744,479 South Africans.

"This represents an increase of 11 percent in traveller volumes in and out of the country."

When it came to Christmas travel this year: "The total traveller movement in and outside the country... from 23-24 December 2010 is 169,912 [people]," said Mamoepa.

He said of this 41,294 foreigners had arrived in the country and 70,790 had left the country over this period.

A total of 18,490 South Africans had come back home; while 39,338 had spent the holiday on foreign soil.

Mamoepa said that the department had hired 198 extra staff at its six land ports of entry including Beit Bridge, Lebombo, Ficksburg, Maseru, Oshoek and Kopfontein, as well as all airports.

"The department of home affairs has reported the smooth processing of all travellers through all its ports of entry, including air, land and sea ports, over the festive season."

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