Truckers plead for help from government over gridlock at Mozambique border
The Federation of East and Southern African Road Transport Associations (Fesarta) and the South African Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF) have blamed the SA government for delays at the Lebombo border crossing station in Komatipoort, Mpumalanga.
The delays were attributed to Covid-19 testing done on the SA side of the border with Mozambique and there were a large number of trucks creating huge congestion in the area.
“We support the requirement for the testing to be done, but border personnel are overwhelmed and cannot cope with the situation,” said Fesarta’s CEO Mike Fitzmaurice.
“What is more concerning is that they have also stated that the additional manpower promised by the minister of home affairs has not materialised,” Fitzmaurice said. This, he added, was worsening the situation.
“A number of staff from the departments of home affairs and port health have now been infected by the virus over recent weeks,” he said.
“Added to this is the four-hour delay when a positive case is detected, as the border is closed to be disinfected. No activity takes place during this time.”
“The situation here is bad – very, very bad,” said one of the thousands of truck drivers stranded at Lebombo.
Fitzmaurice said with truck queues now stretching more than 25km and soaring temperatures often exceeding 32°C, lives and livelihoods were at stake.