Millions of travellers pass through ports of entry

Pretoria - The Department of Home Affairs has facilitated hassle free travel for more than two million people who have passed through the country's ports of entry in December.

"Through its Advanced Passenger Processing and Movement Control Systems, a legacy of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the Department has facilitated the movement into and out of the country from 1-22 December 2011 of 2 323 192 through its air, land and sea ports including OR Tambo, King Shaka and Cape Town International Airports," the department said.

To deal with the increased traveller volumes, an additional 154 immigration officers were deployed to the Maseru, Lebombo and Durban Harbour Ports of Entry. Hours of operation at certain ports of entry have also been extended.

Meanwhile, Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma reiterated her call for passengers travelling through OR Tambo International Airport to exercise patience following recent changes to the airport's immigration system.

On Wednesday, 350 former SANDF officers for the first time assumed their duties as immigration officers at the airport.

The department noted that the deployment was not without teething problems which resulted in delays in the processing of travellers.

However, Dlamini Zuma was confident that the efficiency of the new immigration officers would improve with time. - BuaNews