Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge Bureau
NEARLY 620 000 travellers transiting between Zimbabwe and South Africa used Beitbridge Border Post during the festive season, making it a major crossing point that is helping to facilitate regional and international travel and trade.
Latest statistics from South Africa’s Border Management Authority (BMA) indicate that 7 745 commercial trucks were also processed at the port of entry during the same period.
Beitbridge Border Post mainly links South Africa to Zimbabwe, Zambia, Democratic People’s Republic of Congo, Angola, Mozambique, Botswana, Tanzania and Malawi by road.
While giving an update on the just-ended festive season in Pretoria on Friday, BMA Commissioner Dr Michael Masiapato said they facilitated the legitimate movement of about 4 902 269 travellers across 71 ports of entry during the festive period.
“Of this total, about 1 369 775 were South African nationals, while about 3 532 494 were foreign nationals. In facilitating this movement, we processed about 340 876 private vehicles, 9 072 mini-bus taxis and 10 349 buses through our land modality,” said Dr Masiapato.
“In this festive period, OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) remained the busiest port of entry and facilitated the majority of travellers totalling 991 535, followed by Lebombo land port of entry to Mozambique at 755 529 travellers, followed by Beitbridge land port of entry to Zimbabwe at 618 562.”
Tinaye Agere