Musina residents threaten to shut down tollgate over rising crime at Beitbridge border

Hundreds of residents of Niani, just outside Musina, took to the streets on Friday to express their frustration at escalating crime around the Beitbridge Border in Limpopo.

They are calling for an end to incidents of car theft, hijacking and illicit goods smuggling. Residents blamed what they described as a “porous border” for exacerbating crime in their communities.

On 30 August, protesters threatened to shut down the Baobab Tollgate which links Musina with the Beitbridge border crossing to Zimbabwe. But they were stopped by police officers.

Following the deterioration of the fence in March 2020, President Cyril Ramaphosa authorised the Special Investigating Unit to investigate state procurement during that National State of Disaster period.

In March 2022, the Special Tribunal set aside the two contracts awarded to the value of R40.4-million for building a razor mesh fence on the border. The tribunal also ordered the service providers to be divested of the profits earned. In April 2024 the Supreme Court of Appeal upheld a ruling, dismissing a leave-to-appeal application by the two contractors.

The protesters raised the issue of the fence and blamed the lack of policing and security at the border for rising crime.

“When we go to the police station to report cases, nothing is done. Yet today they are present in large numbers, including a helicopter. But still they do nothing about the crime,” said resident Livhuwani Sello.

Protesters handed over their memorandum to Limpopo’s deputy provincial commissioner, Major General Jan Scheepers. Their demands include building electric fences, walls and trenches along the border.

Addressing the crowd, Scheepers said: “Sometimes there is corruption within our ranks, and even locals report to perpetrators that the police are on their way.”

He promised to arrange a meeting with the police and other authorities to address the concerns raised by residents.

Limpopo police spokesperson Malesela Ledwaba told GroundUp that about nine police officers from the Tshamutumbu Police Station were recently arrested and dismissed due to their involvement in corruption.

The Tshamutumbu station is responsible for policing areas such as Malale and Madimbo, where there are reports of a rise in cross-border crimes. He denied the protesters’ claims and affirmed the police’s commitment to combating corruption.

Ledwaba said they are working on a plan with law enforcement agencies, including the South African National Defence Force and the Border Management Authority. DM

First published by GroundUp.