Parliament, Thursday, 21 October 2021 – The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs, Mr Mosa Chabane, welcomes the assurance given by the Department of Home Affairs and the South African Revenue Service that engagements with their Zimbabwean counterparts are ongoing to resolve the congestion at the Beit Bridge port of entry.
“It is always a concern when there is a congestion at our ports of entry, especially Beit Bridge because of its strategic economic role to South Africa and the continent at large. But we welcome the assurance that interventions agreed to are already being implemented and will progressively have the envisioned positive impact on the congestion,” Mr Chabane emphasised.
Despite this, it must be placed on record that the cause of the current congestion is primarily due to the concessionaire (Zim Borders) on the Zimbabwean side introducing user toll fees payable in cash. Following fruitful interactions between the two countries, a card payment method will now be implemented.
In line with this, the committee appreciates that its oversight mandate does not extend beyond the South African side of the border and it will continue to strengthen its work to ensure that its systems are efficient and effective. The committee has on numerous occasions visited Beit Bridge to inspect challenges and will not hesitate to visit the border post again if there is a logical need to do so.
Mr Chabane emphasised that the committee can only call on the South African government to heighten interaction with their Zimbabwean counterparts to find workable solutions to the congestion. The committee made a call following its visit earlier in the year that interactions with neighbouring countries should be strengthened to ensure the smooth movement of people and goods.
The committee will continue to monitor the implementation of interventions at the port of entry and make necessary pronouncements. But in the meantime, the need remains to find lasting solutions to the perennial challenges at Beit Bridge.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE ACTING CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON HOME AFFAIRS, MR MOSA CHABANE.
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