The Lebombo port of entry on the border with Mozambique, on the main trade route between the two countries, was temporarily closed due to safety concerns and protest action on the Mozambican side, the Border Management Authority (BMA) said yesterday.
The port of entry was closed on Tuesday after protests occurred very close to the border post, and in order to preserve the border infrastructure, a spokesperson for the BMA said.
“All South African officials are on the ground providing assistance with seven officials from the Mozambican side having requested refuge on the South African side for safety and protection,” BMA Commissioner Dr Michael Masiapato said in a statement.
“The BMA and its counterparts are working urgently to address the situation, and we appreciate the cooperation we are receiving at the moment.”
Mozambicans are protesting due to dissatisfaction with recent election results. The protests began after the October 9, 2024 elections, where the ruling party Frelimo (Mozambique Liberation Front) claimed victory.
Opposition groups and independent observers have alleged electoral fraud and irregularities. In the past few days security forces have responded violently to demonstrations, resulting in deaths and injuries.
The border post is part of the Maputo Corridor that links the industrial regions of Gauteng in South Africa with the port of Maputo in Mozambique. The Maputo Development Corridor connects Maputo with South Africa’s Gauteng province and provides access to South Africa, Swaziland and Zimbabwe.
South Africa’s exporters and importers have increasingly begun the use the Port of Maputo due to delays, costs and other problems occurring at the Port of Durban.
In 2020, the border post processed 14.2 million pieces of goods, or 46% of the total trade volume with South Africa’s neighbouring states.
“We advise all stakeholders to suspend travel through Lebombo Port until further notice. Alternative routes to Mozambique must be used where feasible, at the moment until the situation has stabilised,” Masiapato said.
He said they had also received reports of vehicles being torched on the Mozambican side of the Lebombo Port of Entry.
Due to these security incidents and in the interest of public safety, the port had been temporarily closed until further notice. There were also no officials currently working on the Mozambican side, who would need to be available if the border post opened, the spokesperson said.
“The BMA is coordinating closely with Mozambican authorities and South African law enforcement agencies to monitor the situation and work towards reopening the port as soon as it is safe to do so,” said Masiapato.
He said alternative routes to Mozambique should be used where feasible, at the moment until the situation had stabilised.
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