Members deployed under the South African National Defence Force’s (SANDF) Operation CORONA have raised concerns about serious security vulnerabilities along parts of the South Africa–Botswana border, particularly in the North West province.
According to deployed personnel, sections of the border have no physical fence, making it difficult to properly control movement across territorial lines.
“There are places with no fence along the border. When a fence is put up by government, the community steals it to fence their own kraals and immovable property,” said an intelligence official deployed in the area.
SANDF members say the lack of a secure barrier turns the border into a “porous” zone, allowing undocumented crossings and facilitating the movement of illicit goods and livestock.
“A border must serve as a deterrent, and where no physical barrier exists along territorial lines, the very concept of a border becomes difficult to enforce,” one deployed member said.
Officials warn that in some areas, informal systems even emerge where individuals exploit the gaps by imposing illegal “fees” on those crossing the border.
Despite these challenges, the SANDF says it continues to patrol the border through Operation CORONA, working alongside other state security agencies to safeguard South Africa’s territorial integrity through ongoing surveillance and deployment.
