The government of South Africa has issued a call to the private sector to collaborate in the enhancement of the country’s ports of entry. In a bid to revamp and modernize its land ports, six key locations have been earmarked for this purpose, as the government recognizes the need for improvements. Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaeledi has highlighted that South Africa’s border areas often appear less developed than those of its neighbouring countries, which hampers trade and mobility.
The identified land ports are currently in a dire state, and their inadequate infrastructure is causing congestion and inhibiting the growth of regional trade within the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC). Additionally, it poses a challenge in preventing the illegal movement of goods and people across borders and maintaining efficient migration processes between countries, as stated by the Department of Home Affairs.
In South Africa, there are a total of 72 ports of entry, comprising 53 land ports, 11 international airports, and eight sea ports, all overseen by the Border Management Authority. Minister Motsoaledi recently announced the selection of six land ports for essential infrastructure and security enhancements. These include Beitbridge, linking South Africa to Zimbabwe; the Lembombo border post, connecting South Africa and Mozambique; Maseru Bridge, which links South Africa and Lesotho; Ficksburg, serving as a gateway between South Africa and Lesotho; Kopfontein, connecting South Africa and Botswana; and Oshoek, facilitating travel between South Africa and Eswatini.
The proposed project is framed as a public-private partnership (PPP), contingent upon approval from the National Treasury. Minister Motsoaledi has emphasized the urgent need for these upgrades, given the worsening condition of South Africa’s land ports and the increasing volumes of regional and international trade passing through them, causing congestion. He vividly contrasts the South African side of the border to an informal settlement compared to the more developed neighboring territories.
One striking example is the Lebombo border post in Mozambique, where long lines of trucks are a common sight, bumper-to-bumper for hours on end along the N4 highway. This has led some mining companies in the North West, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga provinces to redirect their exports through the Maputo port instead of Richards Bay Harbour.
Security is another pressing concern for the government, with a need to curb illegal trade. Minister Motsoaledi outlined plans to overhaul the current truck management system, which relies on random sampling based on risk profiles. The government is seeking a prospective company to install cutting-edge technology, including gamma ray technology capable of detecting illegal cigarettes, counterfeit currency, and undocumented individuals.
To fund these extensive upgrades, $1 million (equivalent to over R19 million) has been allocated from the SADC project preparation fund at the Development Bank of South Africa. The overall cost of the project is estimated to run into billions of rands. The tender application process is set to conclude in March 2024, with financial closure expected in late 2024. Following this, construction for the upgrades will commence, marking a significant step towards improving South Africa’s land ports, enhancing regional trade, and bolstering border security.
