Road freight operators heading north through Beitbridge into Zimbabwe are advised to proceed with caution after the border was disrupted this morning because of wildcat strike action by the taxi industry.
Earlier this morning the Federation of East and Southern African Road Transport Associations (Fesarta) reported that current delays and frustrations at the border had been exacerbated by the unexpected disruption.
A member of Fesarta’s Transit Assistance Bureau reported that taxis were obstructing traffic flow on the South African side.
Apparently the lack of sufficient security for taxi operators serving Musina and the larger cross-border area led to the disruption of traffic flow.
A long-distance haulier using the border for bulk liquid shipments to the Copperbelt up north said drivers in the area had said that the northbound lane had become heavily congested.
As a result border operations north of the border were holding back truck traffic in a bid to decongest movement south of the border.
Just after noon today Mike Fitzmaurice, chief executive of Fesarta, said that northbound decongestion had eased although this could not be confirmed.
The best thing to do would be for transporters to confirm what’s happening at Beitbridge before proceeding to the border.
Earlier this morning the bulk liquid haulier who confirmed the congestion said it was best that drivers found safe parking to sit out the situation.
According to another source, striking taxi drivers were blocking the road from the weighbridge close to the border, all the way into Musina.
Fitzmaurice expressed his concern about what was happening at Beitbridge, adding that several reports had been received of sporadic strikes disrupting supply chain movements elsewhere.
With the strike action coming a day ahead of the nationwide mobilisation by several trade unions in South Africa, Fitzmaurice said there were fears that tomorrow’s labour action would be similar to what was already at play.
“It’s going to be fun and games,” he said.
