Africa-Press – Eswatini. South African High Commissioner Advocate Thoko Sipamla says Lavumisa border’s volumes are too low hence, the request for it to operate 24 hours is unlikely to pass.
However, Sipamla said an extension in business hours would be considered.
The high commissioner was speaking during a breakfast meeting with captains of industry to discuss trade between Eswatini and South Africa with the aim of finding solutions to improving trade, development and investment relations between the two countries.
Sipamla explained that imports from South Africa to Eswatini mainly through Oshoek, Golela, Johannesburg, Mahamba and Mananga with exports from Eswatini to South Africa mainly using Oshoek, Golela, Mahamba, Managa and Jeppes Reef Border.
She highlighted that the Osheok border post which operates 24 hours moved volumes worth E1.43 billion in August alone with the Lavumisa/Golela border volumes worth E657 million.
“The volumes in Lavumisa are too low to allow for the border post to operate for 24 hours, we however may look into extending the operating hours,” she said,
Sipamla stated that both the South African and Eswatini economies were benefiting from growing trade between the two countries with the money currently exporting almost 74 per cent of its goods and services to the republic. “This reflects an amount of E22.92 billion for 2022,” she said.
Sipamla highlighted that the main products that Eswatin exported to South Africa were scented mixtures worth E5.76 billion, raw sugar worth E4.27 billion industrial fatty acids, oils and alcohols at E2.3 billion.
“South Africa exported E25.54 billion worth of goods to Eswatini in 2022,” she said. The high commissioner stated that the main products that South Africa exported to Eswatini were mineral oils, distillation products, petroleum worth E3.87 billion, vehicles at E1.64 billion and machinery and boilers E1.58 billion as well as electricity.
“Eswatini was South Africa’s 19th largest export market and 21st largest import source in 2022. South Africa’s exports to Eswatini increased by 11.2 per cent in 2022 as compared to 2021, while its imports from Eswatini increased by 22.9 per cent,” she said.
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