Mozambican nationals arrested at Lebombo border

The Border Management Authority (BMA) has arrested a number of Mozambican nationals at Lebombo Border Gate, in Komatipoort, Mpumalanga.

This includes a man driving a stolen vehicle and others trying to cross the border illegally.

According to the BMA, Sunday was the busiest day with thousands of people being processed.

The BMA has launched operation “Hi Tivise” aimed at mobilising citizen across the country to play their role in reporting suspicious criminal activities happening in all South African Ports of Entry.

“Hi Tivise”, meaning inform us, is aimed at assisting in curbing criminal activities such as smuggling of people from other countries into South Africa as well as illicit products.

Commissioner Dr Mike Masiapato says this is BMA’s commitment to end corruption activities happening in the ports across the country.

“We consider this as a strategic initiative scores the Border Management Authority ‘s commitment. Today we embark on a journey to empowers citizen to be active participants particularly when it comes to issues securing our borders so this particular operation, it is a call for action for all the travelers also include the entire community members to join hands with BMA in combating unlawful activities in our ports of entry as well as the broader law enforcement space.”

There was a huge traffic jam on the N4 towards the border as the traffic was stand still, with some motorists driving on the oncoming traffic.

Travellers were frustrated for several hours.

Mozambican nationals are heading home for Christmas as they also await the announcement on Monday of the post-election results dispute by Mozambique Constitutional Council.

Some of the travelers especially motorists claim that they have been on the queue since the morning.

Long queues of people at Lebombo port of entry #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/5249BQBozD

— Tumelo Machogo 🇿🇦® (@IamTumelo) December 22, 2024

BMA is working around the clock to process all the travelers.

Dr Masiapato acknowledged that the Maputo Corridor is one of the problematic ports in the country.

“One thing that we can confirm without being defensive we have been acknowledge that Lebombo and the N4 is one of the problematic corridors in far as traffic management is concerned. It is now bleeding, initially used to be N1 into Beitbridge, we have been able to handle that. N4 still remains a very serious problem, we called upon all the drivers as they are on the corridor to follow the rules of the road but also take the instructions Mpumalanga traffic officers that are on the ground,” Masiapato explains

Meanwhile the police at Lebombo Port of Entry intercepted a stolen SUV vehicle trying to cross into Mozambique. The vehicle had two occupants and one of them fled the scene and the driver tried to run away but was apprehended before he could cross into Mozambique.

Police are on high alert for any corrupt activities at the border post.