Long-distance truck drivers are optimistic that the problem of lengthy queues at the Beitbridge border post may soon improve. Previous reports indicated that the truck drivers had to wait three to four days in line to cross the border.
The problems experienced at Beitbridge were apparently exacerbated when truck drivers travelling between South Africa and Botswana switched from the Kazungula border post to the Beitbridge border post because of the strict Covid-19 regulations at the Kazungula post. This created congestion, with queues stretching on for kilometres - sometimes right back into Musina, which is 12 kilometres from the border. This not only caused great concern around long-distance truck drivers' safety, but also compromised the condition of goods being ferried to other countries.
The MEC for Transport and Community Safety, Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya, attended a stakeholders' meeting on 11 November at Musina Municipality with truck stop owners, clearing agents and government officials. The mayor of Musina, the executive mayor of the Vhembe District, and representatives of the SANDF, SAPS, SARS and the Department of Home Affairs also attended the meeting.
"In the meeting, we have concluded that we get weekly reports on the movement of trucks and that way we will be able to monitor the situation. We are going to have checkpoints and truck stops outside Musina town, so that the congestion here will be taken care of," Lerule-Ramakhanya told the media.
"We are very thankful to the SAPS for already being on board in assisting with the movement of trucks. We hope to see an improvement after the oversight visit. The lives of truck drivers are compromised most of the time when they are waiting for days to cross into Zimbabwe," said Lin Botha, a truck-stop owner who also works as a customs clearing agent.
On her oversight visit to the Beitbridge border post later the same day to monitor progress, Lerule-Ramakhanya said that the congestion of trucks crossing into Zimbabwe had eased. "We advised local authorities to put plans into action even before we held the stakeholder meeting. We really thank the mayors of Musina, Vhembe District and all the clearing agents for the work they have been doing to improve the situation."
According to Lerule-Ramakhanya, the time taken by trucks to be cleared at the border post would not compromise the condition of perishable goods transported to other countries.
Stephen Van Neel, Director Ports of Entry at the Department of Home Affairs, said he was quite confident that the issue with long truck queues would be dealt with before the festive season began. He expressed the hope to have continual engagement with the Zimbabwean authorities to prevent long truck queues.