South Africa authorities clear traffic backlog at Beitbridge

South Africa has come up with a raft of measures which have cleared a traffic backlog that had clogged its side of the Beitbridge border over the past five days.

The plan includes opening more service points and improved co-ordination of inter-border agencies.

In the past few days, travellers were spending close to 10 hours entering or leaving South Africa by road via Beitbridge.

Border Management Authority (BMA) spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Mmemme Mogotsi, said the situation had improved as of Tuesday evening.

“The road is clear for small or light motor vehicles. There are no longer queues of light motor vehicles which can cause congestion,” said Asst Comm Mogotsi.

“Traffic officials are still hands-on at all deployment points to control traffic. Trucks are now at the weighbridge, less than 3km from the border gate at Beitbridge.”

To ease challenges associated with the surge in traffic during the festive season, border officials from South Africa and Zimbabwe are running a co-ordinated, harmonised traffic plan.

They have set the peak period between 10 December and 15 January, with more manpower deployed, additional workstations opened and operations streamlined.

At present, border authorities are processing around 1 300 light vehicles, 1 000 commercial trucks and 250 buses daily.

The Assistant Regional Immigration Officer-in-Charge, Beitbridge, Mrs Canisia Magaya, said they have noted an increase in daily traffic.

She said they are processing around 18 300 travellers daily, with peak arrivals of about 15 000 travellers.

Mrs Magaya was speaking during a working visit to Beitbridge by the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Barbara Rwodzi, who was accompanied by the Minister of State for Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Albert Nguluvhe, and Beitbridge West legislator, Thusani Ndou, on Monday. *_-B-Metro_*