The Border Management Authority, the police, and SARS appear to have successfully met the protesting truck drivers on the N4 near the Lebombo Border Post, resulting in an agreement to open the road.
The flow of traffic had stopped entirely. The protesting truck drivers reportedly blocked off the road earlier today, November 17.
Lowvelder confirmed that the truck drivers have agreed to stop obstructing the road while he was present at the meeting of the various parties.
WATCH: Traffic is backed up past Hectorspruit as trouble erupts on N4 at Lebombo Border Post.
Colonel Obed Maditsi, the manager of the border post port, claimed at the meeting that taxi associations are not required to patrol trucks. From this point forward, a monitoring and evaluation plan has been agreed upon by all parties.
The drivers told the authorities that their two main complaints are a more effective border system and the taxi association’s lack of patrolling of the N4.
Lowvelder has contacted the Mpumalanga SAPS, the Border Management Authority ( BMA ), and the Department of Community Safety, Security, and Liaison (DCSSL ) with media inquiries.
Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, a spokesperson for the provincial police, asked the DCSSL any questions. The BMA and DCSSL both promised to answer the questions as soon as possible.
Mel Preddy of the Malelane Community Policing Forum stated that up to the Tenbosch road ( the paved road leading to Marloth Park’s Gate 2 ), light traffic can travel on the N4.
” From Tenbosch, there is only one truck lane in the line that goes all the way to Hectorspruit.” Authorities are on the scene, and this is, however, orderly, he said.
As a result, the Coopersdal road and Komatipoort and Marloth Park are still reachable. However, he claimed that for the time being, the South African side cannot cross the border.