The perceived lack of border harmonisation at crucial transits required for regional road freight transport is once again on display on the R49 into Botswana, where in-transit cargo carriers are queueing for up to five kilometres at the Groblersbrug crossing.
But this time the problem is not with South Africa or the Border Management Authority (BMA).
Following the recent closure of the border for more than three weeks after the Limpopo River flooded, overborder hauliers trucking supplies to Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and backhauling copper, have been hard-pressed to make up for lost volume.
As a result, the long-distance transit west of Lephalale has been very busy and the BMA seems serious about holding up its side of the bargain – ensuring continuous flow through Groblersbrug by deploying 24-hour operations as part of its Easter Weekend plan.
The problem is that Botswana’s Martin’s Drift Border Post can’t cope with the amount of traffic coming in, and is forced to stop accepting cargo for processing when the truck yard runs out of space.
According to Mike Fitzmaurice, regional vice president of the African Union’s Organisation for Transport and Logistics, the current yard can only accept about 50 to 60 rigs, woefully inadequate for an important transit used to serve Copperbelt clients reliant on South Africa.
He said because of the number of trucks travelling through Botswana to get to Zambia and the DRC, the yard at Martin’s Drift should accommodate up to 500 trucks, but that would mean extending it outside the border post’s perimeter.
Between the authorities, a private landowner providing refuelling and parking facilities to the industry, and a border consultant, Fitzmaurice said: “There is a plan in place but we haven’t heard from officials.”
The current infrastructure situation at Martin’s Drift once again brings into stark focus how governments often talk about border harmonisation but fail to live up to promises of facilitating trade through infrastructural development.
Before the Kazangula Bridge across the Zambezi came into operation in May 2021 – replacing a river ferry system with an engineering marvel – regional freight stakeholders warned that the border crossing down south would not keep pace with the one-stop efficiencies up north.
The catch-up game they cautioned about is now in full view for all to see.
When the border works as it should, allowing trucks to cross almost at will, Martin’s Drift can’t cope with the volume.
And when heavy rains come, the river bursts its banks, forcing personnel at Groblersbrug to flee to higher ground while flood water destroys customs facilities.
In the meantime, for the third time this year after flooding twice led to border closure on the R49, truck drivers wait for up to two days in their cabins while Botswana battles to clear the Martin’s Drift truck yard for more incoming rigs.
And at this time of religious reflection, have authorities in South Africa considered providing at least some portaloos and other mobile amenities for the drivers?
The answer is no.
