Komatipoort - The South African Border Control Operational Coordinating Committee in Mpumalanga has implemented special measures to prevent congestion at the province's busiest ports of entry this festive season.
Lebombo Border Post coordinator David Mabuza said the committee had held a meeting with various government departments and representatives from South Africa, Mozambique and Swaziland to discuss plans for handling peak traffic volumes during December and January.
"The Lebombo Border Post with Mozambique will operate 24 hours from 1 December, and additional staff members are being deployed at all the ports of entry to help cope with the busy festive season," said Mabuza.
He said crime prevention measures would be intensified and that border officials would monitor closely the movement of goods and people.
Mpumalanga's busiest ports of entry are the Lebombo crossing to Mozambique, and the Oshoek crossing to Swaziland.
The latter is also expected to be open 24 hours a day, but a detailed timetable for all ports of entry will only be released on Friday.
Mabuza said buses, taxis and bakkies with more than six people would be processed at the Lebombo Border Dry Port, a former airport 7km from the main border.
"South African drivers who want to take their cars to Mozambique should have the vehicle's registration documents and, if the vehicle is financed by a bank, a letter from the bank authorising the driver to take it out of the country. If it is a company-owned vehicle, border officials need an authorisation letter on a company letterhead. This should include the vehicle's insurance," said Mabuza.
He added that no emergency passports would be issued at the borders during December and January.
"No person, including children, will be allowed through the borders without a valid passport that has at least one unused page, and foreigners entering South Africa should have a passport that is valid for 30 days after the expiry of the visit period," said Mabuza.
He also warned that firearms should be left at home because they could not be exported or imported and border police were no longer permitted to store them.
