South Africa Reopens Border Crossing With Mozambique

Admin 21
19 Dec, 2024

Traveller movement at the Lebombo Port of Entry, which serves as South Africa's primary border crossing with Mozambique, has been officially reopened "until further notice," following an announcement by the Border Management Authority (BMA) of South Africa. This decision comes in the wake of a temporary suspension of operations at the crossing that took place earlier this week on Monday, prompted by a series of election-related protests occurring in Mozambique near the border. These protests, which followed the contentious release of election results in Mozambique on October 24, have caused multiple disruptions to border operations in recent weeks, leading to closures that have significantly affected the movement of goods and people.

In a statement, Acting Commissioner of the BMA, Jane Thupana, provided clarity on the current status of the Lebombo Port of Entry, emphasizing that traveller movement has resumed. The latest operations are allowing for the processing of both pedestrians and small vehicles. Recent statistics reported indicate that there was a notable processing of 7,471 travellers on Wednesday alone, although this figure reflects a decrease of about 50 percent compared to the same timeframe in December 2023.

The BMA explained that the majority of processing is taking place during specific hours-primarily early in the morning and late in the afternoon-when disturbances on the Mozambican side appear to diminish significantly. Unfortunately, the processing of cargo vehicles remains halted, as protesters continue to block entry points into Mozambique, creating a significant logistical challenge for transporters. In light of the ongoing situation, the BMA has warned trucking companies to reroute their vehicles to alternative depots or utilize designated truck holding areas, urging them not to send new shipments to the port until further notice. The authority has reiterated its commitment to maintaining robust collaboration and proactive management strategies to address the ongoing challenges at the border effectively. In its statement, the BMA emphasized its dedication to working in concert with key stakeholders in the border management sector to ensure the smooth functioning of operations despite the current unrest, as they continue to monitor the situation closely.