Computerised weighbridge will address border post discrepancies

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THE TRANS-Kalahari Corridor has reached
agreement on the
construction of a
computerised weighbridge
at Pioneer Gate on the
Botswana – South Africa
border.
Weighbridge discrepancies
at Mamuno (on the Botswana
– Namibia border) and
Pioneer Gate were among the
issues addressed at a recent
meeting of TKC stakeholders.
“The tender for the
weighbridge has already been
issued,” said Bevin Simatta
of the TKC management
committee (TKCMC), “and the
contractor is now on-site.”
The meeting also came
up with a part answer to
complaints from transporters
that admissions of guilt and
penalty fees could not be paid
at night – and trucks were
delayed as they waited for
morning opening.
“This was partly a
misunderstanding on the
transporters’ side,” said
Simatta. “Admissions of
guilt can be submitted to
the police 24-hours a day,
although – because customs
still closes down at night –
penalties can only be handled
up to midnight.”
But even this could
soon be overcome, with the
meeting also identifying that
the ultimate desire is for a
one-stop, 24-hour border post.
“These two concepts really
run together,” said Simatta,
“and the next move should
be a stakeholders’ meeting on
a one-stop, 24-hour facility
which we aim to provide prior
to 2010.”
The widening of the
Mamuno border post entrance
to handle abnormal cargo
loads also came under
scrutiny.
“Again, we had to make
clear that the post could
already handle abnormal
loads, provided prior notice
was given – allowing the
customs authorities to drop
part of the fence at the
border post gate,” Simatta
told FTW.
“But the meeting also
decided that the authorities
should give urgent priority to
permanently widening the
gate.”
The TKCMC pointed out
that the corridor had already
proved itself, having gained
more than 30% of the road
traffic that previously used
the traditional route via
southern Namibia.
“They now utilise the
trans-Kalahari Corridor for
trade between SA, Botswana
and Namibia,” Simatta added.