SA/Mozambique border wall takes shape

A concrete division between Mozambique and South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Province is inching toward completion. Designed to combat crime, the border barrier project is meant to cover 25km of the northeastern wilderness of KZN. Having been signed off in 2018, the project has hit several snags, but officials this week confirmed that 7.4km of phase one has been completed so far. The Citizen reports that the Special Investigating Unit was called in after the Department of Public Works confirmed a whistle-blower’s report that claimed R48m had been paid to two contractors for less than a kilometre of the barrier. Mozambique is not required to contribute financially to the wall’s construction. Phase one runs for 8km between the border gate in Kosi Bay and the Tembe Elephant Park and should be complete in early 2025. Thereafter, phase two covers 8km of the area west of iSimangaliso Wetland Park and phase three links Phongolo River and the western edge of the elephant park with 9km more of concrete.