Mozambique protestors block SA trucks. File photo
Operations on the South African side at Lebombo border crossing with Mozambique, a key coal and chrome export hub, remained suspended yesterday as the post-election related protests that flared in the south-east African nation compound daily losses for local business estimated to run to R10 million a day.
According to Freight News, the largest industrial employer in Mozambique has told the outgoing government of President Filipe Nyusi that, unless supply to its smelter on the outskirts of Maputo is restored, it may have to pull out of the country.
This is according to a source who said Mozal Aluminium, along with 29 other companies, had a meeting with Nyusi on Monday in a bid to secure their investments in a country that’s dangerously close to open insurrection.
Demonstrators on the Mozambican side, angered by the result of the country’s October 9 elections, blocked the route that often processes more than 1 000 trucks a day en route to Maputo’s port.
Over the weekend they also forced authorities to shut two power plants and targeted other key infrastructure.
The Lebombo border port of entry has halted operations for general cargo processing and passenger movements, South Africa’s Border Management Authority (BMA) said in a statement Monday.
“Transporters are urged not to dispatch new vehicles to the port until further notice,” said BMA’s acting commissioner, Jane Thupana.
The stoppage marks an escalation in blockages at the crossing, as trucks were previously able to enter Mozambique after protests ended around 16:00 daily.
The source said Mozal made it clear that unless supplies continued to reach its operations, it might have to shut down its factory for the first time since commencing operations in 2000.
The source, who is a service provider for logistics moving through Ressano Garcia, said although the border had not officially closed, no trucks were allowed to enter the customs control area.
The control zone gates at the Lebombo Border Post in South Africa had also been closed, causing an eastbound back-up of at least 20 kilometres.
Gavin Kelly, CEO for the Road Freight Association (RFA), said they had repeatedly reported security conditions as well as interrupted logistics operations to government authorities, who have admirably taken action beyond their daily duties to confront the symptoms, or consequences, of what is occurring across the border.
“It is very clear that, without the road freight route to the Port of Maputo through the Lebombo border post, many South African mining companies face a bleak future,” Kelly said.
“Our own ports and rail systems have shamefully failed us and the only alternative left to many industries was to use the Port of Maputo.”
Minister for Transport, Barbara Creecy, and officials from the department visited the Lebombo border post on Monday to receive first-hand information on the work that has been done to decongest the queue.
Creecy said the department would work with the Cross-Border Road Transport Agency (C-BRTA) and other law enforcement agencies to develop a plan to address the situation.
“Our country’s border authorities are in touch with their Mozambican counterparts, who will advise when it is safe for freight vehicles to cross the border,” she said.
Creecy said CBRTA was also in touch with the trucking industry to update them on the current situation.
“This situation has happened on a number of occasions in recent times. We plead for patience from the truck drivers who are having to stomach a very frustrating situation and spend long hours on the road,” she said.
The Minerals Council has said it would monitor the situation but discounted mining losses as yet because large volumes of chrome and coal were stockpiled in Maputo and also got there largely by rail.
BUSINESS REPORT