Security cluster prepares to tackle festive season traffic at Lebombo Border

The security cluster in Mpumalanga says it is ready for the festive season at the Lebombo Border Post and has put all contingency plans in place.

This was during their inspection visit on December 14.

The MEC for the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Vusi Shongwe, was joined by the provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela.

Manamela revealed that one of the plans is to have local motorists in smaller cars diverted through the Tenbosch road into Komatipoort, and that all cars travelling to Mozambique will have their paperwork done at Kilometre 7.

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“We are trying to ensure that we manage the truck influx as we anticipate an even bigger number. Having the smaller local cars diverted to an alternative route will create more space on the N4 towards the border to make sure they move faster. The paperwork for cars making their way to Mozambique will be processed at Kilometre 7 and they will be escorted to the border via the weighbridge. This means the N4 will only be for the trucks starting from the point from which all the cars are redirected,” she said.

Shongwe says he is satisfied with the plans and believes the security cluster will handle the holiday season influx well.

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“We will deploy the SAPS and traffic officers on the N4 for 24 hours to ensure order is maintained. We have also managed to get motorcycles that will help monitor, and they will be able to get to certain places faster should there be a need. We will also be increasing police visibility in all parts of Nkomazi to make sure that the safety of local residents is not left behind,” he said.