Deputy commissioner visits Lebombo Border Post to assess readiness ahead of Easter holidays

Plans are in place to ensure the smooth running of the Lebombo Border Post with the Easter holiday upon us.

The deputy commissioner of the Border Management Authority (BMA), Jane Thupana, visited the border post on Thursday, and she was joined by the MEC for the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Vusi Shongwe.

According to Thupana, more border officials will be deployed to ensure that there is no backlog and traffic is managed well, even during the anticipated heavy volumes.

“Lebombo Border is ready in all aspects for the heavy traffic volumes. We have protocol agreements with all the law enforcement stakeholders to avoid long queues by both travellers and trucks. We want to ensure that there is swift movement, trucks will be monitored to stay in their lane and motorists will be under heavy guard not to break the rules. We have also deployed enough personnel to ensure that the borderline will be monitored. Anyone breaking the rules will be prosecuted and those trying to get in and out of the country will either be turned back or deported,” said Thupana.

ALSO READ: Two passengers killed in motor vehicle accident on R40 close to Mbombela

She further added that Kilometre 7 (K7) is ready to work in case traffic volumes grow hastily.

“We are expecting traffic numbers to increase, but should it grow in much bigger volumes, K7 is ready to process documents and escort travellers to the border so they would not have to queue. Just as we had done during the festive season holidays,” she added.

ALSO READ: Party concerned about lack of construction on Driekoppies bridge after multiple budget allocations

Shongwe has reiterated that safety will be a priority on the N4 towards the border as there will be a 24-hour visibility.

“We are aware that traffic volumes will grow as churches such as the Zion Christian Church will resume their convergence this year, and we have incorporated that into our plan of readiness. We have left no stone unturned, from the traffic flow to the safety of travellers. Operation Siyalayisha is one of the plans we came up with to avert overloading, especially those travelling to Mozambique. They are notorious for pulling trailers with overloaded goods, and this operation will ensure that this is dealt with. We have plans to meet with our counterparts from Mozambique, eSwatini, and KwaZulu-Natal because we share the same experiences with them. We therefore need to come up with more innovations to deal with challenges regarding the ports. The 24-hour visibility of our officers on the road has been great in ensuring the safety of road users and we plan to continue with it.”

Lowvelders can expect the roads to be at their busiest along the N4 route, especially between Gauteng and Mpumalanga and Maputo today, March 28 at about 11:00 to 20:00, then on Friday March 29 from 08:00 to 14:00 and on Monday April 1 from 09:00 to 17:00.

This is according to N4 TRAC’s spokesperson, Solange Soares, who also called on road users to obey all safety regulations and be mindful of fellow road users.

“Disregarding road rules can have dire consequences, including serious injury and death. We also appeal to all motorists along the roads to be responsible and law-abiding,” she said.