Beitbridge traffic congested while smugglers get innovative in transporting people and contraband across to Zimbabwe

There is traffic disruption and congestion at the Beitbridge border and outside on the N1 in Musina, Limpopo, as travellers head to various destinations for the festive season holidays. Traffic volumes started increasing on Sunday 20 and continued today. Traffic officials appear unable to control traffic as trucks and small vehicles heading north towards Zimbabwe occupy both lanes. Some motorists say they have been in the queue for several days. A woman has also been reported to have died after collapsing near the border. She had been travelling on a bus since Monday afternoon. Queues at the troubled border are reportedly up to 15km long. Also, smugglers in Zimbabwe, assisted by South Africans are using inflatable boats to carry people and contraband across the crocodile infested Limpopo River. It is reported that people are paying anything between R100 and R500 for a one-way trip. We spoke to our reporter Rudzani Tshivhase, Dumisani Muleya, the managing editor of The News Hawks, a new investigative journalism centre in Harare AND had reaction from Home Affairs Minister, Aaron Motsoaledi.