Borders to stay open longer

South Africa's ports of entry will stay open longer over the Easter holidays to accommodate an anticipated increase in travellers, an official said on Friday.

“Home Affairs Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma has... mandated the extension of operational hours in Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Free State, and Eastern Cape,” director general Mkuseli Apleni said in Pretoria.

In Mpumalanga, the Lebombo, Oshoek, Mananga, Mahamba, and Jeppes Reef ports of entry would operate on extended hours while Groblersbrug in Limpopo would be open for 24 hours from April 5 to 8.

Van Rooyenshek in the Free State would also operate for 24 hours on April 5.

Apleni said Qashasneck in the Eastern Cape would stay open from 6am to 10pm on April 4 and for 24 hours on April 5.

He said the Durban Harbour, as well as the Ficksburg and Maseru Bridge ports of entry in the Free State, would continue to operate on a 24-hour basis.

“The department is still finalising the deployment of additional staff to the ports of entry that will operate on extended hours and this will be communicated in due course,” Apleni said. – Sapa