Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
THE South African government is finalising plans to upgrade its side of Beitbridge Border Post, which will pave the way for the full implementation of the One-Stop Border Post (OSPB) concept with Zimbabwe.
Under the OSPB, two countries share a harmonised border operation to simplify the way business and travellers are cleared once for passage into either country.
In 2023, President Mnangagwa and his counterpart, President Cyril Ramaphosa, met at the border and agreed in principle on the need to implement the concept to enhance efficiencies in terms of facilitating the movement of people and regional and international trade.
This concept has failed to take off since 2006 due to a number of challenges, among them, bureaucrats from the two countries before the Second Republic moved in to upgrade the Beitbridge Port of Entry for US$300 million to pave the way for the full implementation of the idea.
The engagement by the two leaders raised hope of a modernised and seamless border for many people who have lauded the two Heads of State for leading from the front South Africa’s Border Management Authority (BMA) Commissioner, Dr Michael Masiapato, during the tour of the Beitbridge Border Post by a United Nations delegation on Friday, said that work was already in progress and that they expect civil works to start in the final quarter of this year.
The UN team visited the border to observe the protocols authorities are implementing in receiving refugees and asylum seekers arriving by road into South Africa.
“The implementation of the one-stop border post is one of the key strategic interventions and decisions of the Government of South Africa,” said Dr Masiapato.
“Currently, negotiations are underway with successful bidders for a private-public partnership and during the current year 2026, we are going to start seeing that work gaining traction. We expect construction to start in the final quarter of 2026.
“You will realise that the success of the one-stop border will depend on infrastructure and on the Zimbabwean side, they already have the infrastructure. It is us that they are waiting for, so we can implement the OSPB.”
He said that the National Assembly in that country had passed the OSPB Bill, which is now being discussed in the National Council of Provinces.
Dr Masiapato said once it passes the National Council of provinces, the President will sign it into law.
He said under the initiative, border authorities from the two countries will have a Control Zone and co-locate to create one service point for travellers entering or leaving either country.
“We are going to have a Control Zone where we will co-locate with our Zimbabwean counterparts for entry on our side and exit on their side,” Dr Masiapato said.
“This means travellers will no longer have to stop on both sides; they will only stop once and be processed for passage by both countries from one service point.”
At the moment, travellers are stopping at both sides of the border to duplicate the clearance processes, which at times often slows down the flow of traffic.
“The UN is here to observe what we are doing as South Africa in managing the border and the reception of refugees and asylum seekers,” he added.
Dr Masiapato said they had started with the return leg following the conclusion of the exit leg of the 2025/2026 festive season plan and affirmed their readiness to implement the return leg of the plan.
He said the exit leg was implemented from the 10th to the 31st of December 2025 and was characterised by the processing of a high volume of travellers across all 71 ports of entry.
“So, the return leg began today on 2 January (2026) and will end on 15 January and from the 16th we are going to begin the sustenance phase,” he emphasised.
“Basically, we are here to support the authorities here in terms of their ability to receive those entering South Africa after the holidays and we are ready to process them back into the country.”
