South Africa Builds a New Berlin Wall
The construction of this wall between the borders of Mozambique and South Africa brings back bad memories of the shameful Berlin Wall built in Europe during the Cold War.
The KwaZulu-Natal government is committed to building a concrete wall along the border with Mozambique, with the aim of stopping the exit of stolen vehicles and smuggling of goods, with construction having already begun on the first 5 kilometers.
The Start of the Project
According to the South African press, this project was launched in 2020 by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Roads and Transport and the National Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DWPI), but was suspended the following year due to financing difficulties and the problems with the contractor.
Now, in a meeting held on March 6, 2024, the authorities involved in the project updated the progress of the work, announcing that the construction of more than five kilometers of wall in Umkhanyakude, next to the southern border of Mozambique, is already underway.
This is the first phase of the project, which covers the Tembe elephant park. The objective is to combat the theft of cars in South Africa, which are destined for Mozambique, and also the smuggling of various products across that border.
The first phase of the project, valued at 2,1 million euros, began on November 17, 2023 and will last 12 months, after the selection of a new contractor. The second phase of this work foresees the continuation of the wall for another eight kilometers, and the third phase will cover another nine kilometers on the border, up to the Pangolo River, with a total cost of 13,2 million euros.
In July 2023, when the new contractor was hired to build this wall, the governor of KwaZulu-Natal, Nomusa Dube-Ncube, said that the coastal region of Umkhanyakude, which is about 78 kilometers from Ponta do Ouro, in Mozambique, has been plagued for several years by cross-border crimes, especially car theft, which lead to homicides.
Police Response
The South African Police (SAPS) has reinforced the fight against crime with more than 100 operational means in the northern region of the province of KwaZulu-Natal, which borders Mozambique and Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), since January 2023.
It is estimated that more than two million Mozambicans work in mines, agricultural fields, catering, public transport and informal commerce in South Africa, the most developed economy on the continent.
“If an unknown car is parked outside your house, you will be arrested if you do not report the abandoned car.”
“You have to report that car to the police. If the police find it near your house, we will assume it belongs to you and that you stole it.”
Nomusa Dube-Ncube told the local community, quoted by the South African public channel, SABC, also announcing new measures to combat cross-border crime with Mozambique and also stating that it is important to work together with the police to put an end to this scourge.
Conclusion
This new South African wall, although reminiscent of the Berlin Wall, has as its main objective to combat cross-border crime and protect the population of the Umkhanyakude region. All that remains is to wait for the development of the next phases of this project and analyze the results achieved in reducing car theft and combating smuggling.
We must not forget that the Berlin Wall also began with good intentions as it was initially conceived as a response to the political, economic and social circumstances of the time, as is the case today, but ended up being known as the “Wall of Shame”. because of what he has become over time. Let's hope that history doesn't repeat itself here.
What do you think of South Africa's decision to Build this Wall? We want to know your opinion, do not hesitate to comment and if you liked the article, share and give a “like/like”.
Picture: © 2024 Francisco Lopes-Santos
