Crime and gridlocking unresolved at Lebombo Border
The issue of crime and gridlocking at the border post near Komatipoort has been ongoing for several years now, however, the recent armed robbery of a passenger bus has reignited the need to resolve the matters.
Following the recent armed robbery of a passenger-laden bus near the Lebombo Border, concerns over criminal elements operating within the area and kilometre-long traffic queues on the N4 leading to the port of entry have again been brought to the fore.
On the evening of May 11, Cheetah Express bus driver Nathi Mathebela had been transporting 13 passengers to Mozambique when the bus came to a standstill due to a major traffic backlog of mainly trucks near the border.
It was while the bus was stuck in traffic that 14 men, wielding guns, pangas, knives and metal pipes, appeared from nearby bushes and stormed the vehicle.
Mathebela had told Lowvelder that a gun was pointed at him as well as two of his passengers, two bus windows were broken and passengers’ valuables were stolen. He said the robbers also approached other vehicles around the bus that were also stuck in traffic.
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A provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Donald Mdhluli, said a case of robbery is being investigated and no arrests had yet been made. Mdhluli said there had been previous cases investigated, and in some instances, arrests made when suspects targeted and kidnapped truck drivers heading to Mozambique.
Lowvelder had reported on one of these cases that occurred on December 15 when an unsuspecting truck driver was kidnapped after he had stopped his truck under a railway bridge in Komatipoort. He was held overnight and his captors demanded a R50 000 ransom from his employees. Fortunately, the suspects were caught and arrested.
One transporter, Dion Gregory, said the issue of crime has been an ongoing issue for two or three years now.
“When truck drivers are waiting in the queue at night, we find that batteries are often stolen, fuel tanks are broken so criminal elements can steal diesel. Drivers have been robbed, attacked and kidnapped. We report these cases as and when they happen.”
Gregory said the backlogs in traffic are also not a new issue. He said he and other transporters had approached the relevant authorities a few years ago and said if the situation was not handled proactively, the issue of drivers skipping queues and gridlocking the N4 leading to the border would become out of control.
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The Komatipoort Business Chamber chairperson, Jan Engelbrecht, said there is an ongoing issue with traffic backlogs at the border and criminals operating in the area. He said it is a complex situation and people live in fear. “Over the past 18 months, a lot of energy has gone into addressing the issues.”
He said a new deputy commissioner, Major General David Chilembe, recently took office at the border management authority and said he drives processes and solutions and involves all key players.
“Chamber delegates and representatives from the safety authorities recently prepared a summary of long-term and short-term solutions. One of the main proposals is a request for 24/7 policing along the N4 and at hotspots at the border. Another suggestion is to implement software systems.
“We are confident this will bring relief. We are not involved in all the decisions or implementations. We render assistance and suggest solutions,” Engelbrecht said.
The Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison spokesperson, Moeti Mmusi, said it participates in regular meetings with all members of the security clusters to address any border challenges.
“We are also there from time to time. There will be drivers misbehaving when they do not see our law enforcement officers. We are noting the number of trucks going to Mozambique, especially at month-end. We have a contingency plan to deal with congestion that is mostly attributable to bad drivers’ behaviour,” said Mmusi.
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“We are making a clarion call to truck drivers to obey the rules and stop causing congestion. Furthermore, the police will continue to work around the clock to bring any suspects to book at the border,” he said.
Meanwhile, TRAC’s Solange Soares said it was aware of the ongoing issues of trucks blocking the road leading up to the border. She said TRAC has no control or jurisdiction over the traffic on the road or criminal elements that operate along the route.
“We do, however, have a whistle-blowers’ hotline through which people can report criminal elements. We urge the public to use it should they spot any crimes committed along the N4. TRAC offers a financial reward to anyone whose information leads to a successful arrest and conviction.”
The number is 082 900 2447.
Mdhluli is also calling on anyone with any information regarding the bus robbery, to call the Crime Stop number on 08600 10111 or send information via the My SAPS app.
