Number of travellers using Lebombo port of entry decreased by 180k over festive season - BMA

JOHANNESBURG - The number of travellers using the Lebombo port of entry decreased by over 180,000 over the festive season.

The Border Management Authority (BMA) has attributed this to the violent protests that broke out in Mozambique in December.

The BMA, alongside Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber, briefed the media on festive season operations.

In 2024, Mozambique’s constitutional council confirmed the disputed electoral results that saw widespread demonstrations.

READ: Mozambique post-election violence kills 125 in three days 

This reignited the violent protests in the country and heightened South Africa’s caution.

BMA commissioner, Mike Masiapata, said: "We have actually seen a serious dip of around 183,195 travellers at Lebombo. We are able to ascribe this to the reality of the protest and the interruptions that we had in terms of the movement of persons and goods in as far as Maputo corridor is concerned."

Masiapata said travellers resolved to use the Kosi Bay port of entry to Mozambique through KwaZulu-Natal, which saw an increase in traveller volume to over 63,000 compared to the 41,000 for the previous year.