BMA says Beitbridge truck delays caused by constraints on Zimbabwean side

The Border Management Authority (BMA) says congestion of freight trucks at the Beitbridge Port of Entry is caused by constraints on the Zimbabwean side of the border, and not by operations in South Africa.

South African border functions operating, BMA says

BMA spokesperson Mmemme Mogotsi said Commissioner Dr Michael Masiapato is aware of the long queues of freight trucks on the corridor leading to Beitbridge. She told reporters that all SARS and BMA functions including immigration processing, agriculture inspections, port health services and biosecurity controls are operating efficiently and that systems are functioning normally.

Causes of the congestion identified

According to information received from Zimbabwean authorities, the BMA said two main factors are contributing to the backlog:

• Limited parking capacity at the Zimbabwean port, with a significant number of abnormal-load vehicles occupying available parking bays and reducing the port’s capacity to receive additional freight trucks.
• Slower processing by clearing agents on the Zimbabwean side, which has lengthened the time taken to move cargo across the border.

Cooperation and ongoing engagement

The BMA said it is “actively engaging” its counterparts in Zimbabwe to identify and implement measures to expedite truck movement and ease congestion. The authority also expressed appreciation for the patience and cooperation of transport operators, freight companies and motorists, and said it will provide updates as the situation develops.

Migration enforcement and repatriations

The BMA confirmed that South Africa has repatriated 72 906 foreign nationals since 7 June. The article also states that the BMA said South Africa has repatriated nearly 73 000 foreign nationals in just over a month, with most processed at Musina’s Temporary Repatriation Centre. Authorities emphasised that migration enforcement is a rule-of-law matter and warned against resistance to lawful operations while intensifying crackdowns on illegal crossings, trafficking and criminal syndicates.