Motsoaledi blames trucking companies for Beitbridge border post chaos
Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi says trucking companies contributed to the chaos that was seen at the Beitbridge border post in the past week.
There was major congestion at the border for about three days - with a long queue of trucks that stretched for kilometres on both sides.
Coronavirus health checks at the border are believed to have played a part.
Several fatalities were reported during the long wait.
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Motsoaledi says with neighbouring Botswana having introduced tight lockdown regulations and a curfew - many logistics companies found it unprofitable to use the border crossing there.
"The South African border post with Botswana, usually at this time of the year Groblersburg is used as an overflow area when Beitbridge can not cope with the number of trucks that go through."
"But this year, it was the other way around and none of us anticipated something like this as this is happening for the first time. Trucking companies diverted their trucks away from Groblersburg," says Motsoaledi.
The backlog was cleared earlier this week.
Motsoaledi says the number of travellers who've crossed the Beitbridge Border Post this year during this period stands at 103 224, compared to 368 895 over the same time last year.
He says 21 800 trucks have crossed the border, which is 2 000 move heavy-duty vehicles compared to last year.
