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Transport, freight bodies call on government to heed lessons from Beitbridge chaos
The Federation of Eastern and Southern African Road Transport Associations (FESARTA) and the South African Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF) - key players in the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), have called on government for a public-private partnership (PPP) to prevent future disasters similar to the chaos that recently took place at the Beitbridge border post on the Zimbabwe border.
Mike Fitzmaurice, CEO, FESARTA“Government did not consult with industry bodies: it took a unilateral decision to impose stringent Covid-19 testing at the border posts, which resulted in more than 20km queues on both sides of the border. They only took heed of our proposals once the situation became dire,” says FESARTA CEO Mike Fitzmaurice.
Beitbridge blockage an imminent time bomb for the region, says transport and freight industry
By ANA Reporter
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Johannesburg - The transport and freight forwarding industries have called for urgent intervention at the Beitbridge border post between South Africa and Zimbabwe where a humanitarian disaster is unfolding, at the same time creating a potential Covid-19 catastrophe which also threatens a cholera outbreak .
Federation of Eastern and Southern Africa Road Transport Associations (Fesarta) CEO Mike Fitzmaurice said in a statement on Saturday that Covid-19 regulations and restrictions introduced at the beginning of December had severely compromised the flow of traffic through both sides of the border post.
Truck drivers being robbed at Beitbridge border post News24 Wire
A long convoy of vehicles, stretching several kilometres towards Beitbridge border post in Musina. The border connects South Africa with Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia, the DRC and northern Mozambique. Picture: Camilo Ramada Truck drivers are required to undergo a test upon entry to South Africa, but these are only conducted between 09:00 and 17:00.
Truck drivers say they are being left to fend for themselves at the Beitbridge border post between South Africa and Zimbabwe at night while waiting to be screened.
Truck driver and Gauteng secretary of the All Truck Drivers Foundation Mandla Mngomezulu said drivers were being robbed of their cellphones and clothes while waiting to be screened because the police w
Travellers stranded as queue to South Africa-Zimbabwe border gets longer
Thursday December 24 2020
Long queues of vehicles headed to the South Africa-Zimbabwe border at the Beitbridge crossing point. PHOTO | PETER DUBE
Summary
Many travellers fear that they will spend Christmas Day stranded at the border.
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A long traffic queue on the South African side stretching up to 15 kilometres between the Beitbridge Border Post and the Musina central business district is quite a sight.
Frustrated and exhausted travellers heading to Zimbabwe get out of their cars and buses, and stand on the roadside under trees, sheltered from the scorching Limpopo sun as they breathe in the fresh air.