24 hour operation for border posts

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Nelspruit-South Africa's border posts at Swaziland and Mozambique have extended their operating hours due to heavy traffic volumes expected over the Easter weekend.

The Lebombo border post to Mozambique and the Oshoek border post to Swaziland, which are both in Mpumalanga and considered to be among the busiest, will operate 24 hours a day.

Provincial coordinator of the border control operational committee in Mpumalanga, Henson Msongweni, said the two posts were fully prepared for the holiday rush.

"We want to accommodate every motorist so that they will not miss out on any family time," he said.

Smaller border posts to Swaziland such as Mahamba near Piet Retief will be open from 7am to midnight, while Jeppes Reef near Malalane will be open from 7am to 10pm.

Msongweni said motorists should leave their firearms at home as border officials would no longer store firearms at ports of entry. He also urged South Africans to have proper documents for their vehicles.

"And the most important thing to remember is that there will be no issuing of temporary passports at border posts," he added.

The extended operating hours will continue until May 5.