The Border Management Authority (BMA) is inviting suitably qualified candidates to apply for several permanent Border Law Enforcement Officer positions at ports of entry across South Africa. The vacancies are located in Limpopo, North West, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Gauteng and Free State.
The advertised positions fall under the Operations and Law Enforcement divisions of the BMA and involve border control, security services, immigration duties, surveillance, incident reporting and enforcement of laws relating to the movement of people and goods across South Africa’s borders.
Border Law Enforcement Officer Vacancies
Position: Border Law Enforcement Officer
Salary: R261,929.90 – R304,933.31 per annum
Number of Posts: 20
Locations: Limpopo, North West, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Free State, Gauteng, Northern Cape and Eastern Cape
Closing Date: 7–8 September 2026
A Grade 12 certificate is the minimum educational requirement for these positions. Candidates must also have at least one year of relevant experience and a valid driver’s licence. Training in a public security environment will be an added advantage.
The positions are permanent and require employees to work shifts. Successful applicants may also be required to work overtime depending on operational requirements.
Available Border Law Enforcement Officer Positions
Several Border Law Enforcement Officer vacancies have been advertised under different reference numbers.
Border Law Enforcement Officer – Groblersbridge Port of Entry
- The position is based at Groblersbridge Port of Entry in Limpopo and falls under Operations and Law Enforcement in the Northern Region.
- Reference number: BMA-170
- Number of positions: 3
- Salary: R261,929.90 to R304,933.31 per annum
- The closing date is 7 September 2026.
Border Law Enforcement Officer – Kopfontein Port of Entry
- The Kopfontein Port of Entry vacancy is based in North West and falls under Operations and Law Enforcement in the Northern Region.
- Reference number: BMA-171
- Number of positions: 3
- Salary: R261,929.90 to R304,933.31 per annum
- The closing date is 7 September 2026.
Border Law Enforcement Officer – Kosi Bay Port of Entry
- The Kosi Bay position is located in KwaZulu-Natal and falls under Operations and Law Enforcement in the Eastern Region.
- Reference number: BMA-172
- Number of positions: 4
- Salary: R261,929.90 to R304,933.31 per annum
- The closing date is 7 September 2026.
Border Law Enforcement Officer – Lebombo Port of Entry
- The Lebombo Port of Entry vacancy is located in Mpumalanga and forms part of the Eastern Region.
- Reference number: BMA-173
- Number of positions: 2
- Salary: R261,929.90 to R304,933.31 per annum
- The closing date is 7 September 2026.
Border Law Enforcement Officer – Oshoek Port of Entry
- The Oshoek vacancy is also located in Mpumalanga under the Eastern Region.
- Reference number: BMA-174
- Number of positions: 2
- Salary: R261,929.90 to R304,933.31 per annum
- The closing date is 7 September 2026.
Border Law Enforcement Officer – Ficksburg Port of Entry
- The Ficksburg position is based in the Free State and falls under Operations and Law Enforcement in the Central Region.
- Reference number: BMA-175
- Number of positions: 1
- Salary: R261,929.90 to R304,933.31 per annum
- The closing date is 8 September 2026.
Border Law Enforcement Officer – Maseru Bridge Port of Entry
- The Maseru Bridge vacancy is based in the Free State and forms part of the Central Region.
- Reference number: BMA-176
- Number of positions: 2
- Salary: R261,929.90 to R304,933.31 per annum
- The closing date is 8 September 2026.
Border Law Enforcement Officer – OR Tambo International Airport
- The OR Tambo International Airport vacancy is located in Gauteng and falls under Operations and Law Enforcement in the Central Region.
- Reference number: BMA-177
- Number of positions: 1
- Salary: R261,929.90 to R304,933.31 per annum
- The closing date is 8 September 2026.
Border Law Enforcement Officer – Vioolsdrift Port of Entry
- The Vioolsdrift position is based in the Northern Cape and falls under Operations and Law Enforcement in the Southern Region.
- Reference number: BMA-178
- Number of positions: 1
- Salary: R261,929.90 to R304,933.31 per annum
- The closing date is 8 September 2026.
Border Law Enforcement Officer – Port of Ngqura
- The Port of Ngqura vacancy is located in the Eastern Cape and falls under Operations and Law Enforcement in the Southern Region.
- Reference number: BMA-179
- Number of positions: 1
- Salary: R261,929.90 to R304,933.31 per annum
- The closing date is 8 September 2026.
Duties and Responsibilities
Border Law Enforcement Officers will be responsible for a range of operational, security and border management duties.
A major part of the role involves conducting regular patrols and surveillance of assigned areas. Officers will be expected to remain alert and identify suspicious behaviour, activities or items that may pose a threat to people, property or national security.
Access control is another important responsibility. Officers may monitor entry and exit points and ensure that people entering restricted areas are properly authorised. Security screening duties can include searching luggage, operating metal detectors and carrying out other checks required to prevent prohibited or unauthorised items from entering controlled areas.
Successful candidates will also be expected to respond to incidents, emergencies and alarms. Appropriate action must be taken according to established procedures while ensuring the safety of people and property.
Border Law Enforcement Officers will conduct searches of people, luggage and vehicles in accordance with applicable regulations. This may take place during planned roadblocks, checkpoint operations and activities at ports of entry or vulnerable areas along the borderline.
The role also includes conducting vehicle and foot patrols around inner perimeter areas and performing borderline duties and traffic checkpoint operations. Officers may be required to maintain surveillance from covert positions near international borders.
Another important responsibility is controlling and regulating the movement of people and goods. Officers will identify and report international visitors, travellers and shoppers for monitoring purposes and perform immigration-related duties as required.
Incident Reporting and Record Keeping
Accurate reporting is an important part of the position. Officers must document and report security incidents, accidents and violations promptly.
Reports may include information about what happened, the people involved, actions taken, evidence and witnesses. Officers will also maintain security-related records and logs while ensuring that confidential information is handled appropriately.
Information may need to be provided to supervisors, management or other law enforcement agencies when required.
Successful candidates may also be responsible for safeguarding exhibits or evidence discovered during operations until the items can be formally handed over to the relevant agency.
Risk, Compliance and Border Security
Border Law Enforcement Officers must operate within South Africa’s legal and regulatory framework. The position requires knowledge of legislation and procedures relating to border control, customs and immigration.
Relevant knowledge includes the Border Management Authority Act, 2020, the Immigration Act, 2002, the Protected Disclosures Act, 2000 and public administration legislation.
Employees may also be required to consider intelligence information, risk assessments and threat reports when identifying potential vulnerabilities and emerging security concerns.
The role requires strict compliance with applicable national and international laws, regulations and operational protocols.
Minimum Requirements
Applicants must meet the minimum requirements before applying for these vacancies.
The requirements include:
- Grade 12 certificate.
- At least one year of relevant experience.
- A valid driver’s licence.
- Training in a public security environment will be an added advantage.
- Willingness and ability to work shifts.
- Flexibility to work different hours according to operational requirements.
- Willingness to work overtime when required.
The positions involve operational border management and law enforcement responsibilities, meaning applicants should be prepared to work in demanding environments and follow deployment schedules.
Screening and Vetting
Candidates who are shortlisted should expect to undergo further assessment as part of the recruitment process.
The BMA may conduct interviews and technical assessments to determine whether candidates have the required professional and technical competencies.
Employment suitability checks may also be conducted. These can include verification of qualifications, employment references, citizenship and criminal records, as well as credit checks where applicable.
Appointment is subject to mandatory vetting and security clearance appropriate to the position.
Candidates who hold qualifications obtained outside South Africa are responsible for having those qualifications evaluated by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) and providing proof of the evaluation.
Re-Advertised Positions
The BMA has stated that these vacancies are being re-advertised. Candidates who previously applied for the positions are encouraged to submit new applications if they remain interested and still meet the requirements.
Applicants should carefully check the reference number, position title and specific port of entry before submitting an application. Attention to detail is particularly important when applying for multiple vacancies because each position has its own reference number.
Salary and Employment Type
The advertised salary for all the listed Border Law Enforcement Officer positions is R261,929.90 to R304,933.31 per annum.
This is equivalent to approximately R21,827 to R25,411 per month before deductions, calculated by dividing the annual salary range by 12. The actual monthly take-home amount will depend on applicable deductions and employment conditions.
All the listed vacancies are permanent positions.
Closing Dates
Applicants should take note of the different closing dates.
The vacancies for Groblersbridge, Kopfontein, Kosi Bay, Lebombo and Oshoek have a closing date of 7 September 2026.
The vacancies for Ficksburg, Maseru Bridge, OR Tambo International Airport, Vioolsdrift and Port of Ngqura have a closing date of 8 September 2026.
Candidates should submit applications before the applicable deadline and ensure that all required information and supporting documentation are provided.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should apply through the official Border Management Authority recruitment process and follow the instructions provided for the specific vacancy.
Applicants should use the correct job reference number when applying. The relevant reference numbers are BMA-170 for Groblersbridge, BMA-171 for Kopfontein, BMA-172 for Kosi Bay, BMA-173 for Lebombo, BMA-174 for Oshoek, BMA-175 for Ficksburg, BMA-176 for Maseru Bridge, BMA-177 for OR Tambo International Airport, BMA-178 for Vioolsdrift and BMA-179 for Port of Ngqura.
Candidates are encouraged to carefully review the official vacancy information before submitting an application, particularly the requirements, closing date, reference number and supporting documents.
These Border Law Enforcement Officer vacancies provide an opportunity for Grade 12 candidates with relevant experience to pursue permanent employment within South Africa’s border management and law enforcement environment. Candidates who meet the minimum requirements and are interested in security, immigration, border control and law enforcement duties should consider applying before the relevant closing date.