Security is tight at the Beitbridge Border Post as thousands of holidaymakers are beginning to make their way back into South Africa.

The commissioner of the Border Management Authority, Dr. Mike Masiapato, is leading a sting operation at the Beitbridge Border Post to monitor the return of travellers as well as to curb the illegal movement of goods.

Masiapato said the past three days have been busy with at least 32,000 foreigners processed into the country from Zimbabwe, while 200 have been prevented from entering SA illegally so far. Dr Masiapato added that they have deployed more officials to ensure that illegal immigrants without proper documentation don't come into the country. ?We have to use a different approach to make sure that we do not have people inside the port who don't have proper documentation because those are people who ultimately find themselves having to bribe our officials and all of that. So, we have intensified our deployment at the north gate.? At the beginning of December, the Border Management Authority stopped nearly 44,000 people trying to enter South Africa illegally. It arrested over 2,000 people for various crimes and seized stolen vehicles and drugs.

Meanwhile, the health department has issued a statement saying that it is closely monitoring people re-entering the country for cholera, following several neighbouring countries that recorded a spike in cholera cases. Health Department spokesperson Foster Mohale said precautionary screenings have been set up at various borders. "Working together with stakeholders like border management authority, we have intensified health screening services and health education at the land ports of entry to mitigate against the cross-border transmission of the disease," said Mohale.