Calm restored to Lebombo border post following Mozambique unrest
On Saturday, the BMA, together with the South African Revenue Service, reopened the Lebombo border post.
Infrastructure was damaged during unrest by Mozambican nationals at the Lebombo border post on 7 November 2024. Picture: Jacques Nelles/EWN
JOHANNESBURG - The Lebombo border between South Africa and Mozambique is calm after it was opened over the weekend.
Last week, the Border Management Authority (BMA) closed it because of civil unrest in Mozambique.
There have been protests against last month's election in the neighbouring country.
On Saturday, the BMA, together with the South African Revenue Service (SARS) reopened the Lebombo border post.
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BMA Commissioner Michael Masiapato says it's all systems go.
"Everything is going very well. The activities at kilometer four on the Mozambican side are fully stabilised and as we speak, the corridor is fully secured by the Mozambican defence as well as the police services. And on that basis, we haven’t heard any negative news of any of our trucks being intercepted," said Masiapato.
Masiapato said the border was also reopened for the movement of people.
"We are indeed continuing in processing the Mozambicans who are intending to go back to Mozambique as well as the South Africans who are coming back," he said.
At least thirty people were killed in violent clashes between protesters and police in Mozambique last week.
'STERLING JOB'
The Road Freight Association (RFA) lauded authorities for speedily resolving issues around the Mozambique and South Africa border in Mpumalanga.
RFA CEO Gavin Kelly says the swift response from both countries in resolving the queuing trucks on the N4 is a job well done.
"Authorities really did a sterling job to get rid of the 22 to 25 kilometers of trucks through the border post and into Mozambique relatively quickly, in about an 18-hour process. That is fantastic work."
He said there remained challenges in Mozambique, where some people were unhappy with the results of the recent poll.
"There are warnings that there could be a resurgence of protests and violence during the week. The Mozambican authorities are on high alert, with the police and military looking after the corridor from Lebombo down to Maputo, specifically because of all the imports and exports coming from various countries, not only South Africa," Kelly said.