The Lebombo border to Mozambique is now open to travellers until further notice, the Border Management Authority (BMA) announced on Thursday.
BMA acting commissioner, Jane Thupana, said in a statement that pedestrians and small vehicles were being processed minimally, with statistics reflecting that 7 471 travellers had been processed on December 11.
“The statistics indicate that movement is about 50% less than what it was this time in December 2023,” Thupana said.
This comes after the BMA temporarily suspended operations for general cargo processing and passenger movement because of the civil unrest on the Mozambican side of the border.
On Thursday, the authority added that processing mainly took place in the early hours of the morning and late afternoons when the unrest subsided.
However, the processing of cargo remains suspended due to protesters blocking entry into Mozambique.
The BMA said it was closely monitoring developments.
“The situation on the N4 corridor remains under close observation in order to minimise congestion. Trucking companies having facilities in Komatipoort are urged to divert trucks to the depots in Komatipoort, while others may divert trucks to the designated truck holding area at KM7,” the border authority said.
“Transporters are continuously urged not to dispatch new vehicles to the port until further notice.”
Thupana said the authority was committed to effectively managing and resolving the challenges at the border.
"The BMA is working tirelessly with key stakeholders in the border management sector to manage the situation. We urge all affected parties to exercise patience as we continue to monitor the situation and engage with relevant authorities to find lasting solutions," she added. -SAnews.gov.za
