INNOVATIVE BORDER PROCEDURES REDUCE CONGESTION AT ESWATINI BORDER POST

 

Travelers queuing at Ngwenya border Post (pic Eswatini Observer)

To combat long queues and traffic congestion, Eswatini immigration officers implemented innovative procedures, such as quick passport stamping while vehicles remained in motion and requesting passengers to exit their vehicles for faster processing. 

Ngwenya Border recorded a total of 12,199 departures on Sunday, 31 May, and Monday, 1 June, following the conclusion of the highly anticipated MTN Bushfire Festival held over the weekend. The large volume of travelers leaving the country led to significant congestion at key border posts, particularly on Monday when vehicle traffic peaked.

Ngwenya Border Data for departures:

Day

Drivers/vehicles

Passengers

Pedestrians

Cyclist

Total

Sunday

1213

420

3365

5

5003

Monday

1849

618

4728

1

7196

The sharp increase in vehicles crossing the border on Monday 1 June—totaling 1,849—resulted in long queues and congestion. This was further exacerbated by two main factors: limited parking space at the border and the newly introduced South African Revenue Service (SARS) temporary declaration requirement for foreign-registered vehicles entering South Africa.

Despite the heavy traffic, immigration officers on the Eswatini side worked tirelessly to expedite processing. They implemented efficient procedures to minimize traveler wait times, including inspecting vehicles and stamping drivers’ passports without requiring them to leave their vehicles. Passengers were requested to exit their vehicles to complete passport stamping quickly. These measures helped prevent queues forming inside the border post itself—except for the vehicle lines.

The officers worked round the clock to serve the large volumes of travelers leaving the country. Their dedication ensured that the flow of pedestrians and passengers remained smooth despite the challenging circumstances.

Traffic congestion at the border required additional support. The Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) was engaged to assist with managing vehicle flow, alleviating some pressure on the border area. However, insufficient parking capacity and the new SARS regulation caused notable delays for those crossing into South Africa.

 The Ministry acknowledges the frustration experienced by travelers due to the extended waiting times and regrets any inconvenience caused. Moving forward, the Ministry plans to proactively coordinate with South African authorities well in advance of major events to develop comprehensive strategies for managing border traffic and reducing queue times.

Important Advisory for Travelers:

Citizens using local-registered vehicles are encouraged to register their vehicles before travel. This registration process is now mandatory for entry into South Africa under the SARS temporary foreign vehicle declaration rules. For more information and to complete the declaration online, travelers can visit: https://www.sars.gov.za/travellerdeclaration

As Eswatini continues to welcome visitors for events such as the MTN Bushfire Festival, the Ministry emphasizes its commitment to ensuring seamless and safe travel experiences for all.


For media inquiries, please contact: +268 7606 3938 

Ministry of Home Affairs – Communications Office 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

HRH INKHOSIKATI LAFOGIYANE ENCOURAGES PRAYER FOR NEWLY ORDAINED PASTORS

Image
HRH Inkhosikati Lafogiyane delivers keynote address at God's Voice living Church   Her Royal Highness Inkhosikati Lafogiyane has today called on church members to unite in prayer for 20 newly ordained pastors from God Voice Living Church during a special ceremony held at the church's Bethany location. The Inkhosikati emphasized the importance of spiritual support, stating, “Pray for them because their spiritual war has just begun.” Before delivering her message, Inkhosikati read from the book of Ezekiel 34:1-10, inspiring the congregation with guidance from scripture. She urged the pastors to remain steadfast in their commitment to God’s word, underscoring its significance in their ministerial journey. “As new pastors, you will face challenges and warfare, but God trusts you to fight,” she declared, encouraging them to draw strength from their faith. In her speech, she also referenced the story of David and Goliath from the book of Samuel, illustrating the triumph of faith ...
Read more

ANOTHER 51 FOREIGN NATIONALS FOUND IN ESWATINI WITHOUT PROPER DOCUMENTATION

Image
  The Ministry of Home Affairs, through its Compliance Unit under the Immigration Department, has uncovered more than 51 foreign nationals suspected to be residing in the country without proper documentation. This follows last Friday’s discovery of over 88 foreign nationals found at the Castle Hotel in Mbabane. The individuals involved hail from Mainland China, Malaysia, Myanmar, and the Philippines. Today’s discoveries were made at Woodlands in Mbabane and at Forbes Reef, Piggs Peak, specifically at the Umushi Wenkosazane Guest House. This brings the total number of foreign nationals with questionable legal status found in the country to over 140. Among those uncovered, some possessed passports but lacked entry visas or valid work permits, while others had overstayed their temporary resident permits. A number of them had previously acquired work permits that have now expired. One suspect explained that they were in the process of renewing their work permits for an additional thr...
Read more

ESWATINI HOSTS NATIONAL CONSULTATION ON GLOBAL MIGRATION COMPACT IMPLEMENTATION

Image
  The Ministry of Home Affairs, in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), convened a pivotal National Consultation Session on the implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) at the Siteki Hotel. This session is part of Eswatini’s preparatory process for the upcoming International Migration Review Forum (IMRF), slated to be held in New York in May 2026, where United Nations Member States will evaluate progress on GCM implementation. The consultation brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including government representatives, civil society organizations, private sector members, academics, migrant representatives, and the United Nations Country Team in Eswatini. Additionally, experts from the IOM Headquarters in Geneva participated virtually, providing valuable technical guidance to support the IMRF process. The session was officially opened by Nhlanhla Nxumalo, Principal Secretary of the Ministry of...
Read more