Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge Bureau
South Africa has unveiled a massive border infrastructure development plan, committing R12,5 billion to upgrade six land border posts, including Beitbridge, which handles more than 300 000 trucks and seven million travellers annually.
The other borders earmarked for development are Lebombo (Mozambique), Maseru Bridge (Lesotho), Ficksburg (Lesotho), Kopfontein (Botswana) and Oshoek (Eswatini).
Announcing the six successful bidders for the expansion of the Ports of Entry (PoE), South Africa’s Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber, said the project is expected to improve efficiency and align infrastructure development between South Africa and its neighbouring countries.
“The Border Management Authority (BMA) Commissioner will announce the six successful bidders selected to undertake the demolition and reconstruction of the border posts. The project will be implemented in phases, with the ports becoming active construction sites before transitioning to full operation over the coming years,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwean Government has already completed the upgrading of Beitbridge Border Post at a cost of US$300 million, through a public‑private partnership with the ZimBorders Consortium.
Beitbridge Border Post now comprises three terminals for freight, buses and private vehicles and pedestrians. It is also fully automated and serves as a regional gateway linking South Africa with Zambia, Botswana, Mozambique, Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi and Tanzania.
In 2023, South Africa announced that the six PoE projects would involve the complete redevelopment of infrastructure at designated border posts, along with the provision of the required support services.
Dr Schreiber described the rebuilding of South Africa’s six busiest land ports of entry as a milestone and “the single biggest investment ever made” in the country’s border management system.
He said the transformative public‑private partnership would see the complete reconstruction of the Beitbridge, Lebombo, Oshoek, Kopfontein, Maseru Bridge and Ficksburg border posts, which collectively handle more than 80 percent of cross‑border trade and passenger traffic through South Africa’s land borders.
