Border too hot for cops

2008-11-20 07:48

Thabisile Khoza

Komatipoort - Lebombo border police have asked the Mpumalanga government for help in acquiring both hi-tech equipment for the fight against smugglers, as well as sunscreen to protect them from the sun.

Provincial commander of ports of entry Senior Superintendent Sipho Thabethe told safety and security MEC Siphosezwe Masango during a visit to the border on Tuesday that some unauthorised goods were hidden in bags, beds and boats and being smuggled across the border between Mpumalanga and Mozambique.

"While we focus on the big vehicles such as trucks, trailers and buses, other unauthorised goods are crossing the border because the human eye cannot see everything," he said.

He said his officers had, however, been able to seize eight vehicles worth R1.8m over the weekend that had been reported stolen.

Station commissioner for the Lebombo border police, Senior Superintendent Mike Mhlanga, said his officers needed a shelter where they could conduct security checks.

At the moment, they work in the blazing sun.

He said sunscreen would also help.

"We need our MEC to please go back to his office and speak with other departments to assist us with constructing a shelter and buying our members sunscreen because this area is too hot," he said.

He said that when it rained, the chances of illegal goods passing through the border was even higher as the police officers found it difficult to work in the wet weather.

"When we search suspicious people, their documents get wet in the rain," he explained.

Masango agreed that more high-tech security measures were needed, especially ahead of the festive season when about 160 000 people are expected to cross the border each day.

He said people also smuggled cheap cigarettes, drugs and second-hand clothing from countries such as Mozambique and Zambia into South Africa .

"This undermines and compromises our economy as the goods are not declared and taxed accordingly," said Masango.

He also noted that some people were taking their own cars across the border and then claiming they were stolen so they could claim insurance money.

Masango also met with residents of nearby Sibhejane village on Tuesday where residents braved the rain to see him.

He urged then not to be antagonistic towards foreigners.

The area has a large population of foreign nationals from Mozambique and Swaziland.

Masango reminded residents that anti-apartheid activists had found shelter in these neighbouring countries in the past.

"South Africa is not an island. If there are people who are here for commercial reasons or are running away from political distress, we should protect them and respect their status. Our freedom fighters stayed in Lesotho, Botswana, Swaziland, Angola, and many other countries," he said.

- African Eye