The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has intercepted 81 vehicles, while attempting to illegally cross the borders.
Security Watch Africa reports that the vehicles were intercepted in the first quarter of the year, during the “Operation Corona”.
The operation which is an initiative to safeguard the borders of South Africa, has also seen the arrest of several illegal migrants, and recovery of drugs.
According to SANDF spokesperson, Brigadier General Mafi Mgobhozi, 49 vehicles were stopped in their tracks between KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique border.
He said 15 other vehicles were also intercepted before they could illegally leave the border between Limpopo and Zimbabwe, while another 15 vehicles stopped in Mpumalanga and Eswatini/Mozambique border and two between Free State and Lesotho.
Mgobhozi added that SANDF had also seized narcotics valued at R21,473,511-00.
“ The undocumented persons apprehended by the SANDF are handed over to the South African Police Service. After being processed, they are deported back to their countries, ” Mgobhozi explained.
Also speaking, Lieutenant Colonel Seitebatso Pearl Block said the SANDF troops have broken their record with regards to confiscating contraband goods, narcotics and intercepting stolen vehicles.
“ Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the troops deployed at our borders continued to apprehend undocumented persons, prevented livestock theft and seized people guiding livestock towards the borderline, ” she said, adding that 12,500 undocumented people were apprehended.