Beitbridge fence needs drones and sensors – Mapisa-Nqakula
Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has told the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) that government needs to procure drones and sensors to improve security at the Beitbridge border fence.
Public Works Minister Patricia de Lille has come under fire for the fence, which was erected at a cost of more than R30 million rand, in a project riddled with corruption.
Hundreds of Zimbabwean nationals are arrested every month by South African soldiers for illegally crossing the damaged fence into South Africa.
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A significant number of them cross the fence to buy goods and cross back into Zimbabwe.
"We need to talk about what other technological systems we are now putting in place to assist what (Public Works) Minister De Lille has already done. It is clear that the fence has not worked and will not work regardless of the quality of the fence we put up.
"My understanding is that the decision we have taken in the military command council is to begin using drones and rely more on technology. We will still have warm bodies on the borderline, but we need to rely on technology, we have started to put sensors."
