Lebombo border post closure has cost SA economy R50m - RFA

JOHANNESBURG - The Road Freight Association (RFA) has quantified losses to the economy due to trucks and vehicles stuck at the Lebombo border post at R50 million. 

Exports and imports have been severely affected by the closure of the border due to tensions in Mozambique. 

Violent protests have escalated following September's election that remains disputed. 

READ: Ongoing unrest in Mozambique will negatively impact its economy, SA - BMA

The association said police have been stationed near parked trucks in South Africa that are carrying goods. 

"Last night [Thursday] when we got some figures in and you start adding in the various costs, we are actually sitting now at R50 million because remember there are upstream and downstream costs that come to play in terms of this.

"We have had a number of vehicles torched that we are now aware of in Mozambique. Drivers are fleeing for their lives. Trying to get a hold of those drivers and getting them to the point where we can extricate them has been the biggest challenge for us," said RFA CEO, Gavin Kelly.