Komatipoort - The Mpumalanga provincial government has made a commitment to intervene in cross-border crimes involving the theft of livestock and vehicles that are smuggled into Mozambique on a daily basis.
This was after six police station commanders from the Nkomazi area near the border told Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC Vusi Shongwe that urgent intervention was needed to bring smuggling to an end.
Shongwe was part of a parliamentary delegation that went to Komatipoort near the Swazi and Mozambican borders and various villages in the province as part of the MEC's cabinet outreach.
Shongwe warned that they would not tolerate corruption, which eventually led to some crimes being committed.
One of the police commanders, Brigadier Hitler Mashego, said Mozambique posed a serious problem because it had an open market for vehicles stolen in South Africa.
"MEC, we are experiencing serious crimes on a regular basis... We have been informed that there is a market where the vehicles are sold," said Mashego.
"Once a vehicle that was stolen in South Africa crosses the border, we are unable to retrieve it back into the country ... We don't get enough help from Mozambican police."
Mashego added that illegal crossings into South Africa were not only open to Mozambicans, but to Chinese and Pakistanis as well.
The police bosses requested Shongwe, who will be visiting Mozambique next week, to ask for cooperation between South African and Mozambican police officers.
Shongwe said he would visit the neighbouring country to specifically deal with the smuggling of illegal goods, stolen vehicles and livestock. He would also discuss the high number of accidents involving Mozambique registered vehicles and crime in general.
