PRETORIA — Holiday travellers using the North West–Botswana crossings can expect beefed-up operations and longer hours at one local port as the Border Management Authority (BMA) rolls out its 2025/26 Festive Season plan.

During a media briefing, on Sunday, 07 December 2025, the BMA has extended operating hours at Swartkopfontein (Ramotswa) to 06:00–20:00 on 22–24 and 30–31 December 2025. Travellers on the Botswana corridor are also advised that Groblersbridge will run until midnight from 19–24 December.    

While hours at Kopfontein (Tlokweng/Gaborone) are unchanged, the BMA again lists it among the ten busiest national ports, underscoring likely congestion on the Madikwe–Gaborone route.  

The execution phase of the festive plan runs 10 December–15 January, split into an exit leg (to 31 December) and return leg (1–15 January). Expect tighter checks for narcotics, illicit goods and stolen vehicles, with corridors to land ports fully monitored in partnership with RTMC, CBRTA and provincial traffic authorities.  

To speed processing and curb crime and corruption, officials will deploy drones, body cams and extra ICT support, alongside temporary lighting, ablutions and water at priority ports.  

Operations scale down from 16 January, with ports reverting to normal hours; the BMA’s hotline 080 122 9019 remains open for reporting corruption.  

Travel tips for North West border users

• Check port hours before departure and arrive early on peak dates listed above.  

• Keep documents (passports, permits, customs forms) ready; special permits apply for restricted plants/animals and related products.  

The BMA says the plan focuses on queue management, traffic control and inter-agency cooperation to handle seasonal volumes while maintaining security at the Botswana crossings used by North West travellers.  

-The VIP Team

-BMA