Delays at the Lebombo border post have cost trucking companies over R1.3 billion in lost revenue from January 2021 to date.

 

According to multiple Gambakwe sources, truck driversĀ  queue up to three days at the Lebombo/Ressano Garcia border post between South Africa and Mozambique.

 

However, the South African Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF) and Minerals Council South Africa have called on government to intervene as the crisis at the border post has been ongoing since the beginning of August this year.

 

According to the organisations, one of the causes behind the delays at the border is the lack of 24-hour operations, which results in crossing times increasing from an average of one hour to more than 20 hours.

 

Covid restrictions have also exacerbated the situation, as vaccine certificates issued before 8 OctoberĀ  expire while the truck drivers wait in the queues.

 

ā€œTransporters confirm that border crossing times are the worst they have experienced in 15 years. The queue of trucks between Komatipoort and Lebombo is frequently between 7km and 15km long.ā€œThis has serious humanitarian consequences, as drivers sit in their trucks for hours at a time when temperatures are above 40 degrees Celsius ā€“ without access to food, water or ablution facilities,ā€ SAAFF and the Minerals Council said.

 

ā€œThese delays are resulting in loss of confidence, a loss of business and they are threatening the stability and sustainability of trade, transport, employment and job creation in South Africa.

 

ā€œEfficient corridors have a significant impact on the competitiveness of local business and regional economies because they provide a measure of predictability, reliability and efficiency central to trade and logistics supply chainsĀ  which is key to providing access to markets,ā€ SAAFF CEO Juanita Maree said.

 

The Lebombo/Ressano Garcia border post is on the Maputo Corridor, which is a major trade corridor which connects Gauteng, Limpopo and Mpumalanga with Mozambiqueā€™s capital.