‘Progress’ in SA-Moz border wall

The KwaZulu-Natal provincial government has requested the department of transport to fasttrack the raising of a concrete barrier wall along the South Africa-Mozambique border to curb the theft of vehicles and movement of illicit goods.

KwaZulu-Natal premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube conducted an oversight visit to the border in Manguzi, in the Umkhanyakude district municipality – under the auspices of Operation Siyahlola – to assess progress on the construction of jersey barrier walls.

The project, which covers about 25km of the vulnerable border line, was initiated by the KwaZulu-Natal government in 2018 as part of a basket of interventions to fight crime in the area.

The project was conceived to prevent an easy egress for stolen vehicles and livestock and is being implemented in three phases.

Speaking during the site inspection on Thursday, Dube-Ncube noted good progress in the construction of the phase that cuts through Gate 6 – one of the hotspot segments of the border line. “The concrete slab foundation to conclude this phase has been laid. We are confident that the construction will move quicker.

“We have directed the department of transport to fast track the raising of the walls,” she said.

Dube-Ncube, who was accompanied by Umkhanyakude mayor Siphile Mdaka, the police and government officials, said the KZN government was working with its social partners to break the back of criminal syndicates that terrorise communities along the border.

“As we announced during the State of the Province Address, government is also pursuing diplomatic channels to coordinate strategic efforts to fight cross border crime. We are working closely with the newly established Border Management Authority, the SA Police Service’s Specialised KZN Stabilising Team, amakhosi and other crime fighting structures to address issues of criminality in the area.” –