SOUTH AFRICAN REVENUE SERVICE
PRESS STATEMENT

19 DECEMBER 2007

JOINT MEDIA STATEMENT - CONGESTION AT THE LEBOMBO BORDER POST
BCOCC URGES TRAVELLERS TO USE ALTERNATE PORTS OF ENTRY INTO MOZAMBIQUE

The Border Control Operational Coordinating Committee (BCOCC) would like to advise travellers of rising traffic volumes at South Africa's busiest land border posts, particularly Lebombo, the preferred choice of port of entry into Mozambique. High traffic volumes are normal for this time of year when hundreds of resident workers return home for the holidays and usually entail long queues at the border post.

Travellers to Mozambique are requested to use alternate entry points such as through Mananga into Swaziland , onto Namaacha (about an hour's drive) before heading for Maputo (about 25 kms). While this detour will mean going through two border posts and add an hour to travel time, it is likely to save several hours of waiting time at the congested Lebombo port of entry.

Those travellers arriving from KZN should avoid Lebombo and use the Golela entry point before passing through the Goba border post and entering Maputo.

Tourists driving off road vehicles may also use the Giriyondo entry point and travel through the Kruger Park to enter Mozambique.

The BCOCC has put in place measures to manage congestion at border posts. This includes extending hours of operation at priority ports; the deployment of additional personnel and resources and a real time information service to travellers and traders. The BCOCC pleads with travellers to cooperate in the effort to reduce congestion and crime over the holiday season.

BCOCC information service

Extended hours of operation:

The busiest border posts will employ additional personnel and will have extended hours of operation. Information on hours of operation will be available on the website, the call centre and through the SMS service.

ENDS

ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR THE SOUTH AFRICAN REVENUE SERVICE
PRETORIA



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