Beitbridge pile-up nightmare for travellers

Beitbridge pile-up nightmare for travellers

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By Lebo Nkatazo

THOUSANDS of holiday travelers have been left stranded at the Beitbridge border post after South African customs officials got overwhelmed by the number of people entering and exiting Zimbabwe.

Tempers were running high at the Beitbridge border post in Limpopo, the SABC reported Sunday.

Motorists wanting to enter Zimbabwe were having to wait in long queues while their documents are processed. Some travellers told the public broadcaster they have been waiting more than 24 hours.

A reporter on the scene said stationary vehicles stretched back some 12km from the frontier.

On Monday, South African officials said an additional 12 customs officials had been rushed to the busy border post to help clear the backlog.

Nkosana Sibuyi, the home affairs spokesperson, says this time of the year always poses a challenge.

He said customs authorities were continuing to try to normalise the situation.

South Africa is Zimbabwe’s biggest trade neighbour. South African officials estimate that there is close to 2,5 million Zimbabweans on their soil – most of them illegal immigrants fleeing Zimbabwe’s economic decline.
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