Long queues at Lebombo Border continue

Truck traffic towards the Lebombo Border Post on the N4 reached a record high on Thursday, August 10, with trucks queuing from Engen garage at Hectorspruit. Taxi marshals have had their hands full since Wednesday night as some trucks were seen trying to jump the line, causing even more chaos on the N4.

The patrolling team under Maputo Corridor Transport Logistics, says they intend to continue to maintain law and order on the N4 in the interests of their business for as long as there are massive truck volumes. According to its chairperson, Joseph Ntemele, the team will do everything it possibly can to make sure the N4 remains open and accessible to other road users, even as the truck volumes go up.

“As of Friday, August 11, we will try to implement a new system where drivers who have not sorted out their paperwork will be taken to the depot where they will be able to park and sort themselves out,” said Ntemele.

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“Only those with their paperwork ready will remain on the N4 to allow smooth motion. We have noticed that they would usually park their trucks especially close to the BP Garage and then proceed to sort out their paperwork, which causes a delay on the queue.

“We want to try that and see if it will have a positive effect on the movement. We have made the decision to remain on the N4 for as long as the trucks are here because the government told us it does not have the budget to deal with this situation.

“We have had death threats and other companies trying to bribe us into allowing their trucks to jump the line, but we remain unshaken, we will continue for as long as we need to,” he said.

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The drivers who would often have to remain in the motionless queue for over 10 hours have blamed the new operating system at the border, citing that it is very slow and there are often not enough staff members to carry the job.

“We highly appreciate what the taxi marshals are doing for us because it also makes our work easier. We are, however, frustrated by the system at the border,” said one truck driver who wished not to be named.

The Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison’s spokesperson, Moeti Mmusi, said that as of Friday, the queues were still long but not as bad as they had been on Thursday. He said the queues stack up mostly at night.

“We continue to rely on the police to patrol the roads. We urge motorists to remain patient and to obey the rules of the road,” Mmusi said.