South Africa closes main border with Mozambique as protests escalate

6/11/2024 17:51

        South Africa has temporarily closed its main border crossing with Mozambique over safety concerns, its government news agency said on Wednesday, as protests against last month's disputed election in Mozambique continue to escalate.
        
        South Africa has closed the Lebombo port of entry in its Mpumalanga province after receiving reports of vehicles being torched on the Mozambican side, the government news agency said.
        
        "Due to these security incidents and in the interest of public safety, the port has been temporarily closed until further notice," it quoted Michael Masiapato, the commissioner of the Border Management Authority as saying on Tuesday night.
        
        Masiapato said the border authority would reopen the Lebombo crossing as soon as it was safe to do so.
        
        The latest protests in Mozambique are part of a week of demonstrations called by presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane, who came second in official results for the Oct. 9 election but claims to have won.
        
        The protests are set to culminate in a "national shutdown" and march on the capital Maputo on Thursday.