According to a press statement issued by the Border Management Authority (BMA), acting commissioner Jane Thupana has received a situational report on the operations at Lebombo following engagements with the Mozambican officials in Ressano Garcia.

The report also follows a site visit by the BMA’s port commander to assess the situation on the ground at Lebombo. The BMA received information regarding sporadic tensions and protests in Ressano Garcia, a small township in the Maputo province near the Lebombo Border, which followed the publication of the national election results in Mozambique.

Thupana confirmed that the Lebombo Border Post has not been affected and remains operational with both movement of people and goods facilitated as normal. “The travellers were concerned about the tensions and hesitations were noticed when crossing the border, which has the potential to create long queues at the port,” she said.

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“The BMA team and other law enforcement authorities are on the ground to manage any movement blockages. An alert has been issued for travellers to avoid night travel due to the current situation. However, should the situation worsen and become unsafe for travellers, the BMA would inform them accordingly. We reiterate that the border remains open.”

The Mpumalanga spokesperson for community safety, security and liaison, Moeti Mmusi, urged travellers to exercise patience at the border earlier in the afternoon on October 25. “While the border is open and traffic is flowing, it is still very slow. Additional officers have been deployed to the border, and if anyone is spotted breaking the law they will be dealt with accordingly.”