As South Africans (SA) prepare for this week’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), residents living along the border between SA and Zimbabwe say security concerns must be prioritised.
Communities and business owners in Niani, along the Limpopo River, say cross-border crime has become a daily threat, with vehicles and livestock frequently stolen by criminals believed to be operating from neighbouring countries.
Kiran Medukonduri from Mulale, outside Musina, is among those affected. He recalled how his vehicle was hijacked in 2024 and driven across the border into Zimbabwe.
Medukonduri said he had stopped to open a gate when he was confronted by an armed man who demanded his keys.
“As I turned back, I saw a man pointing a gun at me next to the bakkie. He asked for the keys and then drove off. There were two others with firearms. They took my laptop, my phone, everything, and left me in the bush without shoes so I couldn’t even walk properly,” he said.
He added that villagers later mobilised to search for him after learning what had happened.
Residents say such incidents have become common and are urging the government to use the SONA to outline concrete steps to strengthen security along the border.
–ChannelAfrica–
