The Lebombo Port of Entry which borders South Africa and Mozambique. Picture: Supplied.
The Border Management Authority (BMA) announced that the ongoing protests have led to the partial closure of a road leading to the Maputo Harbour in Mozambique, which is affecting the movement of trucks passing through the Lebombo border.
This comes after the BMA was forced to close the border between South Africa and Mozambique for a few days earlier this month due to safety concerns after sporadic tensions and protests in the small town of Ressano Garcia, which is located close to the Lebombo Port of Entry, erupted after the Mozambican elections.
In a statement on Wednesday, 27 November, BMA spokesperson Mmemme Mogotsi said both the Border Management Authority and the South African Revenue Service (SARS) have been informed by customs officials in Mozambique of a protest action affecting the road between Ressano Garcia and the Maputo Harbour on the Mozambican side.
“The ongoing demonstrations have led to the partial closure of the road, affecting the movement of trucks. Despite the deployment of the Mozambican Defence Force and Police to the area, the road remains inaccessible for trucks. The situation is expected to persist until approximately 16h00 today [Wednesday], pending further developments,” she said.
The Commissioner of the Border Management Authority, Michael Masiapato, urged freight forwarders planning to use this route on 27 November to make alternative arrangements and exercise patience as efforts continue to resolve the situation.
“The disruptions on the Mozambican side have affected operations at the Lebombo Port of Entry, impacting the movement of trucks in particular. BMA officials are able to process pedestrians and small vehicles for movement in and out of the Lebombo Port,” he said.
Malcolm Hartwell, Norton Rose Fulbright director and master mariner, told The Mercury after the border was closed earlier this month that although the border post was designed to service 600 trucks a day, reports are that up to 1,800 are arriving at the border post per day, causing lengthy queues and delays.
Related Topics: