WEBVTT - BMA shift to intelligence-led and technology-driven targeted interceptions

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<v Speaker 1>Well, let's speak now about the work being done on

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<v Speaker 1>the borders. The Border Management Authority launching yet more technology.

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<v Speaker 1>We're seeing a real embracing of technology-driven interceptions, intelligence-led work

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<v Speaker 1>as well. This one is a vehicle targeting system at

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<v Speaker 1>the Lubombo border post to combat vehicle theft. And also

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<v Speaker 1>interesting to see that they are also using digital scanners

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<v Speaker 1>as well, mobile devices to scan for illegal foreign nationals

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<v Speaker 1>coming to South Africa. Let's speak to the Deputy Assistant

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<v Speaker 1>Commissioner at the BMA, Meme Mkhotsi. Deputy Assistant Commissioner, thank

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<v Speaker 1>you very much for your time and welcome to the

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<v Speaker 1>Madeira Report.

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<v Speaker 2>Thank you, Wendy, and greetings to the listeners.

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<v Speaker 1>You are embracing technology. This has been a real strategic

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<v Speaker 1>approach that you're taking. Tell us about what you're now adopting.

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<v Speaker 2>Mandy, we have recently now launched the Vehicle Targeting System,

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<v Speaker 2>which is a technology-led border capacity system that has really

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<v Speaker 2>demonstrated very good results for us. I mean, through that technology,

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<v Speaker 2>we were able to intercept and return 83 vehicles worth

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<v Speaker 2>$ 46. 6 million to their lawful owners since the beginning of

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<v Speaker 2>March this year. And we stopped 1,817 vehicles from leaving

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<v Speaker 2>the country without written consent of the institutions. As you

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<v Speaker 2>are aware, Mandy, that when you have a vehicle that

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<v Speaker 2>is financed by the bank, you need to get authorization

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<v Speaker 2>for that vehicle to leave the country. So we have

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<v Speaker 2>partnered with the banking sector, and they have provided us

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<v Speaker 2>with a system that is assisting us to be able

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<v Speaker 2>to monitor vehicles that are leaving the country. What is

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<v Speaker 2>beneficial about that system is that we are able to

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<v Speaker 2>read and profile each and every vehicle that is crossing

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<v Speaker 2>the border. So the system would read the number plate

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<v Speaker 2>of that vehicle, and then it would be able, it

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<v Speaker 2>tells us, it tells us that this vehicle is a

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<v Speaker 2>cloned vehicle. This vehicle is fitted with fake number plates.

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<v Speaker 2>Or this vehicle has not been authorized by the bank

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<v Speaker 2>to leave the country. Or this vehicle is a vehicle

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<v Speaker 2>that is stolen. So, at least now, the work... It's

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<v Speaker 2>not on us for us to try and profile and say,

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<v Speaker 2>maybe we'll try and check this vehicle. It reads each

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<v Speaker 2>and every single vehicle. It profiles it, that system, and

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<v Speaker 2>then it directs us to say, check this one. Don't

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<v Speaker 2>check this one. This one is okay. This guy has

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<v Speaker 2>got a letter to leave the country. This one, it

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<v Speaker 2>looks like a loan vehicle. So now we are able

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<v Speaker 2>to work on a targeted system that is assisting us.

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<v Speaker 2>And then immediately it reads that. And that goes to

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<v Speaker 2>our border guards who are stationed at the boom gate

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<v Speaker 2>because now they have handheld devices. They have those devices

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<v Speaker 2>that are let come to them to say, OK. And

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<v Speaker 2>it comes immediately. It says this vehicle that is approaching you.

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<v Speaker 2>Because the first point of arrival, it's where the cameras

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<v Speaker 2>are installed. Then our border guards are deployed at the

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<v Speaker 2>second point of inspection. So by the time that vehicle comes,

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<v Speaker 2>already an alert is on their system, on their phone,

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<v Speaker 2>to say the guy that's coming has got a problem.

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<v Speaker 1>And tell us then about the handheld mobile devices that

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<v Speaker 1>are being used to scan for illegal foreign nationals. Yes.

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<v Speaker 2>Those devices are able to scan stolen vehicles. So what

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<v Speaker 2>they do, it's a device that you scan through the car,

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<v Speaker 2>and then it verifies the license disk. It verifies the

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<v Speaker 2>number plate. It verifies the vehicle identification number. We call

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<v Speaker 2>it the VIN number. So it does that. It verifies everything,

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<v Speaker 2>and then it's able to create a profile. So in

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<v Speaker 2>that regard, I mean, in just three months, up to

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<v Speaker 2>the 30th of September, the system was able to monitor

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<v Speaker 2>120,962 vehicles, you know, that passed through.

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<v Speaker 1>It's important to have these technologies, Deputy Commissioner. The technology

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<v Speaker 1>and embracing technology is crucial. Do you have sufficiently trained

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<v Speaker 1>humans to use it?

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<v Speaker 2>Yes, definitely. We have trained 277 water cars that are

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<v Speaker 2>using that system. And the beauty about technology is that

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<v Speaker 2>technology does not get tired of counting and profiling. It

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<v Speaker 2>does not look away and ignore a car that is

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<v Speaker 2>supposed to profile. It gives it to us as it is.

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<v Speaker 2>So we are removing the human factor there. We are

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<v Speaker 2>bringing in technology. That is a force multiplier for us.

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<v Speaker 2>You know mainly that BMA has got a resource challenge.

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<v Speaker 2>And we are appreciative of the Minister of Finance who

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<v Speaker 2>has announced now in the recent midterm of the budget

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<v Speaker 2>to say at least there will be something allocated to

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<v Speaker 2>the BMA. So now our efforts are more on technology.

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<v Speaker 2>Because with technology, you don't go wrong.

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<v Speaker 1>Thank you so much. Deputy Assistant Commissioner at the BMA,

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<v Speaker 1>the Border Management Authority, Meme Mochoti, speaking to us there.

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<v Speaker 1>It sounds great. And I think so important when you

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<v Speaker 1>look at the number of vehicles that go across our border,

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<v Speaker 1>they're stolen and suddenly they disappear over the borders. So

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<v Speaker 1>as long as they can do it. And then the

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<v Speaker 1>other one that I was talking about, I think we

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<v Speaker 1>had a bit of a cross-communication there, was that a

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<v Speaker 1>tender has now been opened up, issued a tender to

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<v Speaker 1>appoint a service provider to develop handheld devices with built-in

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<v Speaker 1>biometric readers to verify the status of a foreign national.

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<v Speaker 1>So technology really being embraced at the borders.