SA closes Lebombo border post again amid concern about spillover of Mozambique unrest
John Perlman gets an update from Eyewitness News reporter Orrin Singh on the ground.
Screenshot of Lebombo Border Post from EWN Reporter video
After re-opening the Lebombo border post on Thursday morning, South African authorities have closed it again as political protests in Mozambique escalated.
The decision was sparked by information that protesters were edging closer towards the national key point, reports Orrin Singh from Eyewitness News.
The unrest follows last month's contested election in Mozambique, which saw ruling party Frelimo extending its 49-year rule.
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Singh tells John Perlman that protesters are said to be mobilising in an area named Kilometre 4 on the Mozambican side, heading for the border post itself.
"I doubt that the intention is at any stage to come towards the South African side because most of this protest is now being concentrated in the capital, Maputo."
Orrin Singh, Reporter - Eyewitness News
At least 30 people are reported to have been killed in clashes with police and the military across Mozambique in the past week.
Singh says the unrest is driven by the intention of getting some movement around the vote recount that protestors are demanding.
It's not clear where the court process on this stands, he adds.
"Our border management authority informed the media that a recount announcement was expected today. However, an official from the Mozambican consulate told me that the matter's been taken to the Constitutional Court in terms of the opposition presenting their case. He said the court was going through all the details."
Orrin Singh, Reporter - Eyewitness News
Singh says the line of trucks stuck on the border has grown to 10 kilometres.
"The longer this protest goes on, the bigger the economic impact it has on both countries, and other markets as well."
"Coal and chrome for example are transported out of SA to Mozambique, to be taken to the port of Maputo and then to the Asia market where the majority of the buyers sit."
Orrin Singh, Reporter - Eyewitness News
Scroll to the audio player to listen to Singh's update