Borders reopen for international travel
Truck ferrying goods were subjected to waiting long hours to cross into Mozambique over the weekend.
KOMATIPOORT – The Nkomazi subregion is home to three international border posts, namely, Lebombo which separates the country and Mozambique, and Matsamo and Mananga which are both entry points to the Kingdom of eSwatini.
These border posts officially opened gates for international travel on Thursday October 1. The busiest was Lebombo, which saw a number of South Africa tourists crossing to Mozambique on Friday and back again into the country on Sunday.
Trucks carrying goods, travelling to Mozambique had to queue for hours to cross the border, while traffic coming into the country flowed smoothly. Matsamo and Mananga received fewer people travelling between the two countries
Local economy
Before the country was placed on lockdown on March 27, local businesses trading on the roadside of the border posts, were booming, but quickly took a nose dive as soon as lockdown came into effect. By Monday informal traders had still not returned to their stalls and no mini taxis were in sight neither.
“Covid-19 and lockdown forced us to close our businesses and most of us used up whatever items and money we had left when we were forced to close. And now that everything is going back to normal, most of my colleagues do not have the money to buy new stock.
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There isn’t as much traffic like we had before lockdown,” said Monica Shungube, one of the few informal traders at the Lebombo Border Post, who has been trading since October 1. Moses Ngomane, a taxi operator said business has not picked up as there were fewer people travelling between Mozambique, Swaziland and South Africa. “At the moment, it’s pointless operating on these routes because there isn’t much happening. The only people crossing the borders are tourists who drive their vehicles and do not need our services. I think things will pick up in December, but for now there is no business here,” said Ngomane.
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Long queues
Truck ferrying goods were subjected to waiting long hours to cross into Mozambique over the weekend. Truck drivers, who spoke to Mpumalanga News, complained that they have been waiting for more than five hours to cross the border, and were still waiting. “I have been here since this morning and the queue is moving so slowly. We don’t even know what is going on in front. I am tired and hungry, and I can’t even move and leave my truck unattended,” said a truck driver, Siboniso Manzini.
Road safety
Even though there were not any road accidents reported over the weekend, the MEC for road safety, Gabisile Tshabalala, has encouraged motorists to continue using the roads cautiously.
“Following the reopening of ports of entry, we expect a huge increase in transport volume on our roads. We would like to urge all to be cautious. We are working with all stakeholders and are ready to deal with increased traffic volumes coming in and out of the country through the province from the neighbouring countries. “There will be zero tolerance towards reckless and negligent driving,” Tshabalala said.
