Mpumalanga border locals fear economic fallout from Mozambique's planned shutdown

Some locals at the Lebombo border post in Mpumalanga remain fearful that anticipated unrest in Mozambique may spill over into South Africa and affect their livelihoods.

There is a heavy police and army presence at the port this Monday following large volumes of travellers on Sunday.

Over 24,000 people moved in and out of the country on Sunday through the Lebombo border.

While border management authorities have attributed this to holiday travel due to the long weekend, some police officers and locals believe the rush was caused by fear of a protest in Mozambique near the port, in retaliation for last week’s anti- immigrant marches in South Africa

Outside the Lebombo border is an established informal market where vendors sell cooked food, soft drinks, and snacks.

But on Monday has been a visibly slow day for business as the border has been relatively quiet after a rush of travellers who made their way in and out of the country last night.

This woman, whose parents were hawkers here and now she owns a stall, says the last time she saw similar volumes of travellers like Sunday was over a decade ago.

She said she is fearful and uncertain about what retaliatory protests by Mozambicans would mean for her business

The border is being closely monitored with armed officers at the gates and BMA drones in the sky.

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