Oshoek border closed after truck crashes into cars, port infrastructure

Oshoek border post in Mpumalanga may be closed for a month after a 32-tonne coal truck experienced brake failure and smashed into 15 vehicles, leaving three people injured and the port infrastructure damaged on Sunday.

This is according to Sars spokesperson Siphithi Sibeko, who said they were still waiting for the damage to be assessed.

Border Management Authority commissioner Michael Masiapato said the incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning when a truck, allegedly experiencing brake failure, descended towards Eswatini on the departure side of the port.

The truck crashed into 10 stationery private vehicles, four Sars vehicles and one SANDF bakkie, causing significant damage, he said.

“Three individuals — that is one Sars official, one tourism monitor and the driver of that truck — sustained injuries during the incident,” said Masiapato.

“All injured individuals were promptly attended to by Eswatini emergency medical services and transported to a hospital in Eswatini for immediate treatment.

“Port infrastructure was affected whereby two guard houses and an inspection shelter were severely damaged.

“As a precautionary measure, all operations at Oshoek port of entry have been temporarily suspended to allow for investigations by SAPS and collection of evidence and photographs from the scene. Pending the safety assessments by disaster management teams, the operations at the port will continue to be suspended until the necessary clearance has been issued to ensure the safety of all stakeholders.”

Travellers and transporters of cargo are advised to use the following borders:

• Nerston port of entry;
• Mahamba port of entry;
• Jeppes Reef port of entry; as well as
• Lebombo port of entry with Mozambique. 

SowetanLIVE