Beit Bridge border post is fraught with problems, an interdepartmental committee found in a visit to the port of entry from Zimbabwe on Tuesday.
Apart from ”phenomenal” traffic congestion, there was little signage, too few toilets and immigration staff lacked commitment, dedication and discipline, found the Border Control Coordinating Committee (BCOCC), a sub-committee of the justice, crime prevention and safety and security cluster.
Tempers have been running high at the border post since the start of the festive season, with travellers having to wait hours in long queues to have their documents processed.
The staff complement was increased by 12 to 17 customs officials on Sunday to help ease the pressure, and 15 mobile toilets would be in place there by Wednesday.
”Ordinarily at this time of year we do have an increased number of people crossing the border to their respective countries, and this does cause some congestion,” Department of Home Affairs spokesperson Nkosana Sibuyi said on Monday.
”But, having visited Beit Bridge this weekend, I can say we have enough officials there to handle the situation,” he said.
However, the queue of vehicles at the border has since been reported to stretch 12km.
A festive-season security plan is being initiated by the provincial joint operational and intelligence structures to resolve the crisis, the BCOCC said.
It will address traffic congestion on the N1 highway to the border, as well as the need for emergency medical services at the border.
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and the police are being roped in to tighten security.
Pedestrian congestion will be tackled through ”effective queue management” and access control. — Sapa