By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Government has requested proposals from the private companies to help it upgrade its six busiest land border posts and ease congestion.
The upgrades will assist in improving regional trade between the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), stop the illegal movement of goods and people, and assist in effective migration between the countries.
South Africa has 72 ports of entry, of which 53 are land ports of entry, 11 are international airports and eight are sea ports.
The ports are managed and controlled by the Border Management Authority.
Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi announced that six land ports of entry had been identified for infrastructure and security upgrades.
These include Beitbridge linking SA to Zimbabwe, the Lembombo border post between SA and Mozambique, Maseru Bridge between SA and Lesotho, Ficksburg between SA and Lesotho, Kopfontein between South Africa and Botswana, and Oshoek between SA and Eswatini.
The project has been announced as a private-public partnership (PPP) and is subject to approval from National Treasury.
Motsoaledi, together with Treasury and private sector entities, briefed the media on the request for proposals for the development of the country’s six busiest land ports of entry.
The minister said the government wants the border posts fitted with the latest infrastructure and technology so they can be on par with global best practices on border management.
Motsoaledi said some of the border posts are in a terrible state.
“In fact, South Africa’s ports of entry were designed during the apartheid era with the primary objective of tightened security whilst neglecting the effective facilitation of regional and international trade. In fact, ladies and gentlemen, it is not an over-exaggeration to state that when you visit our land ports of entry, between us and our SADC neighbours, the South African side of the border looks like informal settlements while the other side looks like Sandton.
“Since the advent of democracy, there has been an exponential increase in the number of people moving between South Africa and the countries in the region. The volume of regional and international trade has similarly increased.
“As a result, our land ports of entry are very congested, and that continues to stifle trade instead of enabling it. If you want to understand what we are talking about, just take a visit to the Lebombo Border Post between SA and Mozambique, where you will see trucks lining up for kilometres, bumper to bumper, for hours on end, on the N4 corridor.”
He added that the redeveloped ports of entry will result in the efficient cross-border management of movement of people, goods and services.
“The improved administration of persons entering and leaving the Republic, better regional economic integration; and enhanced support for the African Continental Free Trade Area, improved revenue collection and addressing leakages caused by the illegal movement of goods and illicit financial flows.
“Protecting local industry from harmful imports and exports and effective migration management including curbing illegal migration.
“During construction, the project is expected to create in the order of 38 000 jobs in areas around the six designated ports of entry”.
The tender application process will close in March 2024, with the project coming to a financial close late next year. Construction on the upgrades will begin thereafter.