Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi assured citizens that the department intended tightening security at the border posts ahead of people returning into the country during and after the festive season. #COVID19 #Beitbridge #HomeAffairs
According to Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, the department was only aware of one truck driver who died amid the Beitbridge congestion that lasted for almost three days.
The situation there was described as a humanitarian crisis with thousands of people in queues that go on for kilometers and no water and toilets nearby.
The border post has been a site of widespread criticism recently, with various reports exposing how easy it is to pass through it.
The committee on Tuesday expressed concerns on the delay, saying it wanted to finalise the controversial R40 million failed Department of Public Works and Infrastructure project.
The project was commissioned by minister Patricia de Lille in March, shortly after a national state of disaster was declared by the president.
The investigation report found several alleged procurement and other irregularities, and allegations of fraud committed by the officials, and the border fence project service providers.
The suspect was towing a trailer branded with the name of a funeral undertaker in Gauteng when he was caught at Beitbridge earlier on Monday.
The committee believes the fence, valued at R37 million, was not fulfilling the role it was intended to, calling it a waste of money.
The minister and her department on Monday briefed Parliament’s public works committee on the matter.
Building the fence at Beitbridge is a key national project, but it will not prevent the entrance of illegal immigrants, writes Omry Makgoale.
Cash, power and fuel shortages in Zimbabwe don’t appear to have deterred many people from travelling home this Christmas.
