On Friday afternoon, while conflicting information was coming through about a resumption of cargo processing at Mozambique’s Ressano Garcia border with South Africa, at least two reliable sources confirmed that South Africa’s Lebombo Border Post on the N4 Maputo Corridor remained closed.
Both trade and transport corridor consultant, Barbara Mommen, and Mike Fitzmaurice, chief executive for the Federation of East and Southern African Road Transport Associations, sent through official information refuting reports of the Lebombo border reopening.
However, it was stated that “we are opening for returning trucks as and when the need arises”.
It was indicated that there had been an appeal for cooperation from road freight industry stakeholders who have trucks stuck in the customs control area.
“There are currently 33 trucks parked in the export control area and some of the drivers abandoned the trucks, which will cause challenges for us once we have to resume operation.”
But the road freight industry, especially ore carrier companies trucking bulk commodities to the Grindrod-run Matola terminal at the Port of Maputo, is eager to start using the corridor again.
Yesterday, the queue of export ore-carrying tippers stretched for kilometres from the border south of Komatipoort.
A conservative estimate said South Africa had lost about R50 million in earnings loss because of tippers not being able to pass through the border.
Earlier this week it was reported that a loaded ore truck loses R1 000 per hour in revenue when delivery is delayed.
Dr Michael Masiapato, commissioner of the Border Management Authority, also confirmed that the border remained closed, adding that 15 officials from the Mozambican side of the border remained in South Africa after fleeing for their lives from election unrest.
A truck driver who was carrying a load of milk for VKB Group into Mozambique, Soviet Chirembwe, said looters had gone on the rampage and had not stopped.
“They took everything. Tyres, diesel, everything!”
Despite the freight industry’s eagerness to resume trade through the crucial logistical link to the Port of Maputo, Dr Juanita Maree of the Southern African Association of Freight Forwarders, said: “Please don’t send your trucks to the corridor.
“Customs processing is not operational on the Mozambique side.”
She said although there were two mobile units available for the potential resumption of cargo processing at the border, “Mozambique customs needs to give approval.
“Co-collating between the two customs administrations is a possibility. However, certain building blocks need to fall into place.”
She confirmed what Masiapato had said, that “the situation remains tense”.
She said Saaff, together with related stakeholders, remained committed to finding ways to keep domestic and international supply chains fluid.
Hopes that protesters supporting Podemos, the opposition political party disputing Frelimo’s election victory in October, might pull back from further public unrest also appear to have been dashed.
Although Podemos presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane initially indicated that week-long demonstrations would end on Thursday, November 7, Agência de Informação de Moçambique reports that he’s instigating further election protests.
Attempts to lure Mondlane out of hiding in South Africa, where he has apparently sought refuge, have also failed.
A freight industry source stuck in Maputo said it was interesting that Mondlane was managing to get his messages out despite the Mozambican government having suspended internet connectivity.
The source said only Starlink was working.
On Friday morning it was reported that port operations in Maputo were also still suspended.
* This post was updated on November 10.
