South Africa’s (SA) Beitbridge border has come under the spotlight as a joint parliamentary committee conducted a fact-finding visit, highlighting the scale of illegal crossings, smuggling, and hijacked vehicles in the area.
The SA National Defence Force (SANDF) has warned that years of budget cuts have weakened its capacity to secure Beitbridge and other border points.
“We have repeatedly outlined our challenges to government departments and requested additional resources, but the SANDF has been underfunded for the past 15 years. This visit was important because now the committee sees the situation firsthand,” said Lt. General Siphiwe Sangweni, SANDF Joint Operations Chief.
The committee is expected to recommend increased funding to allow the SANDF to dismantle criminal networks operating at the border.
Dr Malusi Gigaba, Co-Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Defence, said, “These challenges are long-standing. The ease with which people move between countries through unofficial points, supported by syndicates and improvised infrastructure, is alarming. Urgent action is needed.”
The Border Management Authority (BMA) has also announced stricter inspections of all vehicles leaving SA to curb the movement of large quantities of medicine. This follows the discovery of boxes of medicine after a bus crash on the N1 near Louis Trichardt last weekend, which killed 43 people. The bus was carrying 91 passengers to Malawi and Zimbabwe.
Major General David Chilembe of the BMA said, “All departing vehicles will now be checked. Personal medication is allowed, but large shipments are a concern. This is an unprecedented situation for us at the port.”
–SABC/ChannelAfrica–
