During the December/January holiday period, the Lebombo/Ressano Garcia border posts will be operating 24 hours a dayfrom 28 November 2012 up to 12 February 2013.

Due to the increased volume of holiday, business and tourist travel during this period, and due to the limitations of infrastructure and human resources, queues and congestion are expected over the peak days.

The expected peak periods are as follows:

Expected peak periods
Dates:	Travellers:	Flow of Traffic:
14-19 Dec 2012	Tourists and commercial cargo	RSA to MOZ
20-25 Dec 2012	Miners, tourists and commercial cargo	RSA to MOZ
02-03 Jan 2013	Miners, tourists and commercial cargo	MOZ to RSA
04-11 Jan 2013	Tourists and commercial cargo	MOZ to RSA

The massive traffic flow over the peak periods is expected to affect the followings ports of entry (POE):

• Lebombo POE
• Oshoek POE
• Mahamba POE
• Mananga POE
• Jeppes Reef POE

Border post operating hours
Port of entry (POE)	Extended operating hours	Period
Lebombo POE	24 hours (passengers) 06:00 – 22:00 (commercial)	28 November 2012 -12 February 2013
Oshoek POE	06:00 – 24:00	Permanent
Mahamba POE	07:00 – 24:00	21 to 24 December 2012
Mananga POE	07:00 – 20:00	21 to 24 December 2012
Jeppes Reef POE	07:00 – 22:00	21 to 24 December 2012

Please take note that normal border post operating times are in effect except for the extended hours as per the periods stipulated above. Plan trips carefully to avoid the long queues.

Clearance of travellers

Lebombo POE will clear people travelling in buses and taxis at the Komatipoort Commercial Facility (7 km before the main POE) from 14 to 25 December 2012. It is signposted as the Lebombo Border Dry Port.

Other POEs will clear people at their main and outside buildings where applicable.

Port of entry requirements (RSA side)

• No individual is allowed to import or export firearm(s) without a permit.
• All South African registered vehicles to be taken to Mozambique or Swaziland should have the following documentation:
• vehicle registration documents
• where the vehicle is financed by the bank, SAPS and SARS Customs will require a letter from the financial institution/bank authorising the driver to take the vehicle out of the country
• where the vehicle is owned by a company, SAPS and SARS Customs will require a letter on the company letterhead authorising the driver to take the vehicle out of the country. This should include the vehicle insurance.
• Emergency passports are issued at Home Affairs offices in various towns/cities. No person, including children, will be allowed through the port of entry without a valid passport (at least one page of the passport should be unused) – Department of Home Affairs (DHA).
• Foreigners entering South Africa should have a passport valid for 30 days after the expiry of the period of the visit – DHA.
• Travellers should ensure that they declare all goods in their possession with all necessary documentation such as invoices or proof of purchase. All imported second-hand clothing entering the country needs to be accompanied by a permit from the Department of Trade & Industry – SARS Customs.
• All valuable items such as motorbikes, cameras and laptops are to be declared at customs – SARS Customs. These items should also be securely stored.
• No agricultural and animal products including live animals, even for personal consumption, are allowed to enter the country (RSA) without a permit. Such goods will be detained if permits are not available – Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF).
• All corpses (bodies of deceased persons) need a permit to enter the country – Mpumalanga Department of Health and Social Services – (MDOHSS)
• Travellers going abroad or coming into the country are only allowed to bring medicine which will last for 30 days if they are in possession of the doctor’s prescription – MDOHSS.
• People travelling to and from yellow fever countries (Angola, Congo, Nigeria, etc.) must be in possession of a yellow fever certificate – MDOHSS (Innoculation)
• All RSA permit holders (work or study) are no longer allowed to claim a VAT refund when they export goods. They can only claim on expiry of their permit within 90 days period before their final departure from RSA – VAT Refund Administrators

Port of entry requirements (Mozambique side)

• Revenue or fees to be paid at RessanoGarcia POE (Mozambique side) when entering.
• Customs fees:
• Goods entering Mozambique are liable for duties/taxes depending on the quantity and quality thereof.
• Third party insurance (can be purchased at the Ressano Garcia Border Post):
• motorbike R80
• vehicle R150
• vehicle pulling a trailer or caravan R230
• trucks or any vehicle carrying commercial goods R200
• trucks or any vehicle pulling a trailer carrying commercial goods R300.
• Currency:
• rands and meticals are accepted for payment of the above services.

Port of entry requirements (Swaziland side)

• Customs charges a road tax on all non-Swaziland registered vehicles entering Swaziland as follows:
• vehicles (non-commercial) R50
• trucks and other commercial vehicles R80.
• Currency:
• rands or emalangeni are accepted for payment at Swaziland POEs.

It should further be noted that Mpumalanga POEs,as well asthose of neighbouring countries, do not have credit card facilities (card swiping machines).

Please also take note of the following:

• A valid driver’s license is required (All SADC issued and International Driver’s licenses are accepted).
• Third party insurance for Mozambique is required.
• You will need your original vehicle registration papers if you own the vehicle or if the vehicle is still financed by the bank, you will require a letter from your bank granting you permission to take the vehicle across the border.
• A blue and yellow triangle sticker in the front of the vehicle is required if you are towing any type of trailer.
• Travellers to Mozambique are required by law to carry a ZA sticker, reflective vest and two red emergency triangles.
• Keep your passport on you at all times.
• No animals or pets whatsoever are permitted to be carried across the border.
• Transport operators from South Africa who are moving across the border are required to have permits issued by the Cross-Border Road Transport Agency (CBRTA). Please note that the CBRTA will be issuing special permits for the festive period commencing from 10 December 2012 until 20 January 2012.For enquiries in this regard, call the CBRTA on +27(0)123481357 and for any complaints or tip-offs relating to corruption, call 080 000 0594.

• There are many individuals working on both sides of the border who are passing themselves off as government officials and who offer to complete documentation on behalf of travellers for a fee. These individuals are fraudsters and should be avoided categorically. Please also note that no fees are payable on either side of the border for the completion of documents. If you are unsure please ask for official identification and an official government receipt.
• Please also do not use the runners at the border post who offer to speed your thoroughfare and jump the immigration queues for a fee. This makes you party to fraud and corruption and undermines the efforts of the relevant government departments to stamp out corruption and provide an effective service.
• It is important for drivers at all times to carry their driver’s licence, proof of insurance and vehicle documents for bringing their vehicles back into South Africa.
• It is advisable (not a requirement) to obtain an international driver’s licence for travel across the border, whether to Mozambique or to South Africa. These are available from the AA and most travel agents.
• Third party insurance for South African vehicles crossing the border is compulsory and can be obtained from various outlets at the border and at Komatipoort, agents at the Lebombo Border Dry Port, as well as the BP garage on the N4, 1 km before the Lebombo Border Post. These service providers will also assist with necessary documentation for your trip across the border. In the event of an accident involving a third party, the first line of call is the insurance company.
• Night-time travellers should be aware of pedestrians and stray animals on the road.
• Officials at both POEs, i.e. Lebombo and Ressano Garcia, have requested that travellers do not use their parking spot at the border post as a point to take a refreshment break, as this contributes to the congestion of the facility. It is recommended that you stop for refreshment breaks before or after the POE.
• Alternatively, tourists may want to travel to Mozambique via Swaziland through the Jeppes Reef Border post (From the N4 just after Malalane) or the Manangaborder post (from the N4 just after Komatipoort), crossing into Mozambique through the Lomahashaborder post.

PLEASE ALSO NOTE THE FOLLOWING IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Should travellers encounter difficulties with traffic police or other authorities en route to their destinations, particularly if these officers are attempting to illicit bribes or are threatening, you are advised to do the following:

• Be as cooperative as possible.
• Insist on a written or officially printed fine.
• Don’t pay the fine to the police officer, but take it to the nearest police station for payment and get an official receipt, stamped if possible.
• If the police/traffic officers request a bribe, ensure that you take the name of the officer, and ensure that the location and time of the road block is noted. Without this information there can be no recourse.
• Do not pay the bribe!
• If in Mozambique, report this to the South African High Commission or pass it on to Maputo Corridor Logistics Initiativeto take up. If police insist on escorting you to the nearest police station (the escort may often not be the closest police station), or if you are unsure of the legitimacy of the charge, call the South African High Commission in Maputo for advice or assistance on +258 21 49 0059/3030 or the after-hours duty officer on +258 84 304 4600.
• If in South Africa, the same principles apply and incidents should be reported to the Mpumalanga Traffic Department on itshotline: 080 020 2775
• TRAC Help Desk (N4 and EN4 Only): If you are involved in an accident, have a flat tyre, overheated engine or smashed windscreen, dial for assistance from the TRAC rescue team nearest to you.
• The IOM’s Southern African Counter-Trafficking Assistance Programme (SACTAP):
• Mozambique regional office: +25821 310 779
• South Africa regional office: +27 (0)12 342 2789
• Swaziland regional office: +263 4 335 044/048

Please take note of the following important contact information:

South Africa anti-corruption and emergency numbers
Institution:	Contact number:
CBRTA Vuvuzela Hotline	0800 000 594
Human Trafficking	0800 737 283
Mpumalanga Traffic Department	0800 202 775
National Intelligence Agency (NIA)	012 427 4903
Presidential Hotline	17737
Department of Home Affairs	0800701701
Department of Health	0800701701
Department of Agriculture Forestry & Fisheries	0800701701
South Africa Revenue Services (CUSTOMS)	0800 002 870
South African High Commission in Maputo	+258 21 49 0059/3030 or +258 84 304 4600
South African Police Services(SAPS)	0860 010 111
TRAC Help Desk (N4 Only)	0800 872 264 or (+27) 082 881 4444

 

Mozambique anti-corruption and emergency numbers
Institution:	Contact number:
Mozambique Customs Green Line	800 000 800
Mozambique Police Green Line	84 800 22 22 or 800 22 22 22
Mozambique Tourism Bureau Complaints	(+258) 21 313 772 or (+258) 21 308 584
TRAC Help Desk (EN4 Only)	(+258) 84 343 4346 or (+258) 82 303 4303
Vodacom Emergency Number	84 800 22 22