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Zimbabweans queuing at the Beitbridge border post.
- Cheaper Covid-19 tests at South African border posts saw an influx of travelers queuing at the country’s land ports of entry.
- In January, videos on social media showed chaotic scenes at the busy Beitbridge border post as thousands of Zimbabweans tried to enter South Africa.
- Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said talks in Parliament are underway to ensure the smooth reopening of the borders.
Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi says cheaper Covid-19 tests at SA border posts contributed to the large influx of travelers queuing at the country’s land ports of entry.
On Monday, Motsoaledi briefed Parliament’s home affairs committee on the challenges facing the country’s borders.
He said that, in neighboring Zimbabwe, a Covid-19 test costs around $ 60 (around R800).
“The price for PCR testing (Covid-19 testing) in Lesotho is R850.00. The National Health Laboratory Service at the border charges R170. This contributed to the large influx of travelers demanding antigen testing at ports. due to low cost, compared to testing in their own countries. The strict lockdown measures imposed in Botswana (specifically Groblersbridge) caused truck drivers to divert to Beitbridge, “he said.
READ | Calm returns to Beitbridge, but attempts to enter SA continue illegally
At the beginning of the year, videos circulating on social media showed chaotic scenes at the busy Beitbridge border post, with thousands of Zimbabweans desperately trying to cross into South Africa shortly before their country entered a severe blockade.
After the chaotic scenes that unfolded at the Beitbridge border post, calm has since returned, but Zimbabweans are still trying to enter the country illegally.
Motsoaledi said the influx of travelers caused several problems at the border posts.
These included:
- Border control processes for departing travelers were less stringent because no traveler was required to present a Covid-19 test certificate upon departure.
- Travelers underwent a new check-in and check-out process when antigen testing was required.
- This affected all the business process flows from the port of entry, as it was the first time it was needed.
- The entire test takes about 15 minutes.
- After the test, travelers still have to wait for their results and that leads to a backlog of people and eventually congestion inside the port.
- The sudden implementation of a harsh blockade in the first week of January by Zimbabwe triggered anxiety and thus the desperate need to enter South Africa.
He also said land borders need serious improvement.
“The maintenance and conservation of the infrastructure of land ports continues to be a challenge in the operational chain and has a serious impact on operations by compromising the provision of services mainly at land borders. This is different from land ports, where DPWI is the owner and therefore responsible for the maintenance of land borders. The department works on a system, where contractors are appointed on a three-year contract to provide repair and maintenance services and related infrastructure repair services in ports, “he said.
READ ALSO | Beitbridge closure: cross-border traders in a struggle to make a living
Motsoaledi also highlighted that the problems experienced at land borders were not found at other ports of entry.
“To guarantee the maintenance of the port infrastructure, the respective owners of the different modalities are responsible for ensuring that these services are provided. At airports, Airports Company South Africa is the owner and they ensure that the infrastructure is maintained and repaired. “The same arrangement exists in seaports, where the Transnet Ports Authority is the owner. Challenges such as ‘operational and dirty work areas or sanitary facilities’ are not experienced in these modalities,” he said.
Motsoaledi said talks are underway to resolve the issues with neighboring countries before land borders are reopened.
The chairman of the Parliament’s home affairs committee, Bongani Bongo, welcomed the department’s willingness to open the country’s borders.
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