Mozambicans begin returning to South Africa

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Mozambicans begin returning to South Africa

2:32 CAT | 03 Jan 2025

File photo: Noticias

The demand for international transport, especially to South Africa, resumed yesterday, a day that migration authorities predicted would mark the peak of departures from Mozambique.

Most passengers are Mozambicans who work or import goods from South Africa.

Ernesto Muchanga, an international transport operator at the Junta terminal, said yesterday’s flow of passengers was significant and even better than in some previous years. He attributed this to fears among passengers that new restrictions on transportation might be imposed in the coming days.

By late morning yesterday, five vehicles had departed from the Junta terminal: two to Johannesburg, two to the Kingdom of Eswatini, and one to the city of Nelspruit.

Muchanga also noted a high demand for transport to Ressano Garcia and Namaacha.

At the Junta terminal, we met South African Chris Hlunguane, who was returning to Nelspruit after celebrating the transition from 2024 to 2025 with friends. Not even the tensions in Mozambique deterred him from fulfilling this wish.

Meanwhile, at the International Passenger Road Transport Terminal in Baixa, the situation was different. Many vehicles were idle, and some operators had abandoned their activities due to the low turnout of passengers.

The terminal president, Frederico Lopes, reported that by late morning, three vehicles had departed for Durban, Rustenburg, and Johannesburg.

For transport operators, this scenario is unusual for the period following the year-end festivities. However, Marcos Francisco, who operates on the Maputo/Ressano Garcia route, expressed hope for improvements today.

“Up until now, I only have two passengers, whereas in previous years, at least three vehicles would have already departed for Ressano Garcia,” he said.

In response to the anticipated peak in departures to South Africa and the Kingdom of Eswatini, the Provincial Directorate of Migration has reinforced human and material resources to streamline services and expedite document processing.

At the Ressano Garcia border post, a one-stop facility has been activated at Km 4 and Km 7 on the Lebombo border in South Africa. At the Ponta do Ouro crossing, extended service hours remain in place.

Source: Noticias