A fence stretching 20 on either side of the Beitbridge border post is expected to be constructed by Government within a month to ensure that no undocumented or infected persons cross the border into South Africa from Zimbabwe and vice-versa.
This was revealed by Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Patricia de Lille during a media briefing in Cape Town last week. In a statement issued by her department De Lille was quoted to have said in terms of Section 27 of the Disaster Management Act, she has invoked emergency procurement procedures in relation to the construction and repairs of the border fences, east and west of the Beitbridge border post. De Lille indicated that the fence was in line with a raft of interventions announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa when he declared the Coronavirus pandemic a national disaster. He directed that South Africa’s borders and ports be secured with immediate effect, De Lille explained.
“The President stated that 35 of the 53 land entry points would be closed. This measure will, however, not be effective if the fences at the border are not secure, which in many places, they are not,” she emphasised.
It was reported that she has issued a directive to her department last Monday allowing them to proceed with emergency procurement procedures. It was learnt that her department together with the Department of Defence and the South African National Defence Force undertook diligence and site inspections and it was identified that a fence – 40 km long and 1,8 m high – be pitched
20 km on either side of the Beitbridge land port entry. The specifications are finalised and all of the emergency supply chain management processes were undertaken and subsequently the contractor has been appointed to commence with the work, she explained.
“Due to the project being an emergency, my department has instructed the contractor to substantially increase the number of teams deployed and the rate of delivery tenfold. The installation of the 40 km fence is expected to cost about R37,2 million and would be finished within one month,” De Lille concluded.
Story: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za
