Dear Minister Schreiber,

I write to urgently draw your attention to the serious chaos unfolding at the Lebombo Border Post. South Africans, Mozambicans, and international visitors are being forced to stand in queues for hours on the South African side, with only minimal staff available to process passports. The conduct and organisation at the South African control point fall far below acceptable standards and are entirely inadequate for the current volume of travellers.

In stark contrast, the Mozambique side is functioning smoothly and efficiently — which demonstrates that the current crisis on our side is entirely avoidable.

With the holiday season upon us, the consequences extend well beyond frustration for travellers. Lebombo is a vital gateway for tourism, trade, and the movement of families between our two countries. The severe delays are already causing reputational and economic harm not only to South Africa but also to Mozambique, whose tourism and cross-border business depend on a predictable and functional border crossing.

This is especially concerning at a time when more international tourists are choosing multi-country holidays that combine the Kruger National Park with the beaches of Mozambique. When visitors encounter gridlock, mismanagement, and unprofessional service at the border, both countries risk losing these travellers to alternative destinations — resulting in significant economic losses on both sides.

I therefore urge you to intervene as a matter of urgency by:

• Increasing staffing levels
• Improving operational efficiency
• Ensuring consistent and professional service delivery
• Implementing proper crowd-flow and traffic-flow management

Lebombo cannot continue to function under such strain without damaging the economic prospects and international reputation of both South Africa and Mozambique.