South Africa is building a wall along its border to fight the smuggling of stolen goods into Mozambique.
The project implementation stage has already started, with the first phase being an 8km stretch targeted to be covered by modified New Jersey Barriers.
The project will cost around R85,7 Million, the project entails upgrading and developing border control infrastructure.
According to MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Bheki Ntuli, the modified New Jersey Barriers will run a stretch of eight kilometres and will start from the boundary of Isimangaliso Wetlands Park moving to the western boundary of Tembe Elephant Park.
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Ntuli said the project’s objective is to curb the smuggling of cars and other goods stolen from South Africa transported into Mozambique.
The government also made stepped up their efforts by beefing up police presence and adding resources along the border to fight criminals.
“The rampant vehicle theft challenge has prompted the government to make a number of interventions in the area, including upgrading Manguzi police station, increasing police vehicles, opening a mobile police station in Skhemelele area and increasing police deployments,” Ntuli said in March as the lockdown was starting.
Earlier this year, the community protested over the government’s lack of concern over the criminal activities happening in their area.
According to IOL, KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Sihle Zikalala visited the area after demonstrators started violent protests that threatened to shut down the economy of Jozini and Mhlabuyalingana. The meeting helped ease the tensions and improved communication over the interventions the government was making.
The Department of Transport has deployed a team of senior officials that is continuously monitoring the progress of the Modified New Jersey Barriers project.
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South Africa is building a wall along its border with Mozambique