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President Cyril Ramaphosa’s meeting with the Mpumalanga Executive Council.
Mpumalanga Premier Mandla Ndlovu has urged President Cyril Ramaphosa to engage his Mozambican counterpart on the ongoing protests that are affecting the province.
Ndlovu was speaking at a meeting led by Ramaphosa in the province, where the President met with the Provincial Executive Council on issues affecting the province.
Ndlovu says that the province’s economy is being affected by the increased tensions in Mozambique.
“We are carrying the brand of illegal and undocumented immigrants. This has its own negative consequences, including cross-border crime, as well as increased community crime in general, illegal mining, especially in Sabie, Barberton and Pilgrim Rest.”
President Ramaphosa earlier said the province is South Africa’s powerhouse. “Most of the country’s electricity comes from here, fuelled by the abundant coal reserves in this province.”
Mpumalanga will be at the centre of the just transition to a low-carbon economy, which presents both challenges and opportunities.
We need to ensure that this transition does not damage livelihoods in the province.
— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) December 10, 2024
Mananga border amid unrest
The Border Management Authority has advised travellers heading to Mozambique to use the Mananga Border post following disruptions at the Lebombo border due to ongoing unrest in Mozambique following the recent disputed elections.
The Mananga Port Of Entry into Eswatini was quiet, with operations continuing as usual. Some of the police officials were sitting under the trees observing the movement of travelers.
Only a handful of cargo trucks were processed – as their cargo was diverted to be offloaded at the Sidvokodvo Train Station in Eswatini, before they were transported to Maputo harbour.
The trucks were loaded with coal from Emakhazeni in Mpumalanga. Some of the truck drivers crossing the Mananga border post indicated that they had been waiting at the Lebombo border post since Saturday before they were rerouted.
“From Saturday until I came back this morning and then yesterday they decided to divert us to Mananga Port, so we came to Mananga Port this morning and we have already submitted our papers and we have already got our papers. So, we are heading to Mananga to offload,” says one driver.
“We parked from Friday until yesterday now we are going, they diverted our stockpile to Mananga in Eswatini because we can deliver there. It affected me so much because we were running out of water, we were running out of food,” explains another driver.
Most travellers to Mozambique have been advised to use the Mananga Border Post in Eswatini. This comes as operations remain suspended at the Lebombo port of entry in Mpumalanga between South Africa and Mozambique due to sporadic post-election protests in Mozambique.
Cargo and travellers remain stuck at the Lebombo border post.
BMA Deputy Commissioner Jane Thupana says, “The Lebombo port of entry has temporarily suspended operations for general cargo processing as well as passenger movements due to the Mozambique side being affected by sporadic unrest. Travelers mainly pedestrians and small vehicles that had to travel through Mozambique are advised to divert to Mananga port of entry. This option however is currently not feasible for cargo trucks due to similar demonstrations targetting commercial goods at Boane in the Mozambican side.”
Mpumalanga is a province of natural splendour. It has long been a destination for visitors from across South Africa and across the world.
— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) December 10, 2024
The President emphasised that Mpumalanga plays a crucial role in the country’s social and economic development for years to come. We are committed to following through on this vision, ensuring that no one is left behind as we build a prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable future… pic.twitter.com/i4szMB6jYd
— Mandla Ndlovu 🇿🇦 (@Mandla_Ndl) December 10, 2024
-Additional reporting by Motsebi wa Monareng
