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Never let a good crisis go to waste. That is the lesson we should learn in dealing with the recent chaotic scenes at the Beitbridge border post between South Africa and Zimbabwe.
The strict processing of documents and the new requirements for Covid-19 tests have led to heartbreaking scenes as people waited for days to be allowed to cross the border.
They stayed in queues for days without food or absolution facilities, slept in cars and had to deal with anxiety over whether they would even be allowed through.
It was instructive that before Christmas, the direction of the lines were towards Zimbabwe and after Christmas, the queues were to enter South Africa.
Read: Congestion at Beitbridge border post are an indictment on SA immigration and foreign policy
It is clear that a sizeable number of Zimbabweans now make a living here.
It is an indication that, despite Robert Mugabe’s deposition, the economic situation in that country has worsened over the past few years.
The Zimbabwean government is simply unable to provide for its brutalised citizens.
The South African government and the ANC at least had the guts to try to confront Zanu-PF about the deteriorating situation and its impact on South Africa. But the ANC and the government delegation were sent packing, having been told that Zimbabwe was a sovereign country.
Our government has to keep up the pressure and extract concessions of reform from President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration.
Read: Department of home affairs to send more staff to borders to deal with volumes of travellers into SA
Otherwise, the situation threatens to spin out of control for authorities here.
In the meantime, South Africans have to do a better job of policing the border instead of waiting for media reports of a gridlock before sending in home affairs officials and security reinforcements.
They have to be proactive and provide lasting solutions throughout the year and not do a patch job in crisis mode. We cannot afford this turning into an annual humanitarian crisis.
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