A South African ministerial delegation held a joint inter-ministerial meeting with their counterparts from Mozambique, followed by a press conference on Wednesday.
Minister of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), Ronald Lamola, described the meeting as a reflection of strong bilateral cooperation between the two nations. “This important meeting between friendly and fraternal neighbouring countries is reflective of the very good levels of bilateral cooperation between our two countries. The meeting was held in a very constructive and cordial manner, illustrating the great spirit of collaboration between South Africa and Mozambique,” said Lamola.
He further outlined South Africa’s representation, which included himself as DIRCO Minister, Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy, Minister of Trade and Industry Ebrahim Patel, Minister of Defense Thandi Modise, and Premier of Mpumalanga, along with MECs, executive mayors, and representatives from the Border Management Authority (BMA), the South African Revenue Service (SARS), and other agencies responsible for border management.
“The meeting exchanged views and agreed on measures to mitigate disruptions at our ports of entry, particularly the Lebombo and Ressano Garcia border posts,” Lamola noted. “In this regard, the ministers agreed, among other measures, to enhance channels for frequent and continuous engagement at the diplomatic and bilateral levels, jointly identify alternative routes, and deploy additional resources to expedite and facilitate trade. Collaboration with stakeholders, particularly businesses, will be key to minimizing the impact of these disruptions on operations.”
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