By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has sent Sydney Mufamadi as a special envoy to engage all relevant stakeholders in Mozambique amid post-election protests.
Disruptive protests broke out in Mozambique on Tuesday, 23 December after the country’s Constitutional Council certified the ruling Frelimo party and its presidential candidate, Daniel Chapo, as the winners of the presidential, legislative and provincial elections in October.
The elections were marred by accusations of rigging, with opposition presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane of the Podemos party stating that he was the true winner.
The death toll since the escalation in unrest has reached 125, according to a Reuters report.
Mufamadi, national security adviser and former minister of safety and security, met with Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi in Maputo on Friday, 27 December.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Mufamadi acknowledged that the Mozambican and South African economies were deeply intertwined, meaning that events in one country affected the other.
“As President Ramaphosa says, we have no choice but to make this very heavy burden a bit lighter, by sharing it with Mozambique,” said Mufamadi.
Meanwhile the South African National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NatJoints) has intensified its operations along the South Africa-Mozambique border to prevent and combat any “opportunistic crimes” that might arise as a result of the ongoing unrest in the neighbouring region.
The announcement of these measures on Sunday followed reports that a riot at a prison in Mozambique’s capital, Maputo, on Christmas Day resulted in more than 1,500 prisoners escaping from the facility. Another 33 died and 15 were wounded during the incident.
“The government of South Africa has noted with concern the ongoing protests in parts of Mozambique and reports of individuals escaping from a maximum-security prison during this period of unrest. These developments have understandably raised apprehensions among South African citizens regarding the potential cross-border implications,” said NatJoints.
“The government of South Africa is actively engaging the government of Mozambique at a bilateral level to address these concerns and explore sustainable solutions. Both nations are leveraging their strong diplomatic ties to ensure that appropriate measures are implemented to restore order and enhance security in the affected regions.”
The announcement concluded by imploring South Africans to keep calm and not share any unverified information.
“The relevant authorities are monitoring the situation closely and will provide timely updates as new information becomes available,” it said.