Intervention by South Africa’s Border Management Authority (BMA) at the Groblersbrug Border Post with Botswana is beginning to show positive results, especially for transporters of dangerous goods (DG) and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG).
This comes after tanker drivers and FMCG transporters reported major delays at the DG truck park near the border control zone.
One fuel carrier told the Transit Assistance Bureau (Transist) that trucks were stuck for days, despite the route being a vital corridor for over-border freight between South Africa, Zambia’s Copperbelt, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
At the height of the congestion, the operator said he had 19 trucks waiting to cross the Limpopo River.
Mike Fitzmaurice, Regional Vice President of the African Union’s Organisation for Transport and Logistics, said the backlog stemmed from the DG truck park being misused to accommodate all types of freight, including dry bulk and general cargo.
“It’s supposed to cater only for DG and FMCG trucks, but the operators seem focused on maximising profits by allowing all types of cargo,” he said.
The situation was worsened by a lack of control over truck departures from the park. Fitzmaurice stressed that priority should be given to Hazchem and refrigerated carriers, particularly those operating under the South African Revenue Service’s (SARS) Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme.
He criticized the current arrangement where Customs officials only assist AEO cargo once it reaches the border control zone.
“That defeats the purpose of a green lane. If cargo is pre-cleared, it shouldn’t be stuck in the same queue.”
In response to an enquiry by Freight News, BMA Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Marketing and Communications, Mmemme Mogotsi, said that border management at Groblersbrug, in coordination with Botswana counterparts, had implemented new measures to prioritise DG and perishable goods.
“Tankers carrying diesel and other sensitive cargo are now exempted from the general queue,” she said. “They must inform us via the SARS pre-clearance system.”
Mogotsi added that law enforcement agencies, including the Cross-Border Road Transport Agency and traffic police, are helping ensure compliance with the prioritisation of hazardous freight.
Although progress was initially slow, a transporter confirmed to Transist that Customs officials had begun fast-tracking some trucks, pulling them out of the queue for quicker processing.
Still, concerns remain about long-term queue management. A suggestion to split the queue into AEO-certified and non-compliant trucks has generated mixed reactions.
Some clearing agents argue that the physical layout of the border makes it impractical, and that perceived favouritism could spark disputes among drivers.
However, a trade facilitator believes that with proper planning, queue separation could become a standard practice at other high-traffic border posts.
Meanwhile, drivers transporting sensitive dry bulk goods are raising concerns. One wheat transporter said that prolonged delays at Groblersbrug—sometimes stretching from three to six days—lead to condensation under tarpaulins, especially with high daytime temperatures and cool nights. This causes the wheat to sprout, rendering it unacceptable at Zambian mills.
While DG and FMCG freight is now being prioritised, the driver questioned how dry bulk carriers would be accommodated.
“If our cargo is being damaged because of delays, what’s the solution for us?” he asked.
