Beitbridge Border Post– Traffic movement at the busy Beitbridge Border Post between Zimbabwe and South Africa resumed on Monday evening, following a temporary closure prompted by a hazardous materials scare involving a liquefied petroleum (LP) gas tanker. The incident, which occurred just after midday on the South African side of the border, forced authorities to temporarily shut down all traffic in and out of the port of entry as a precautionary safety measure.
The scare began when a gas tanker carrying LP gas veered off course and came to rest at the Shell service station, located approximately 800 metres from the Beitbridge Border Post. Due to the potentially explosive nature of the cargo, both South African and Zimbabwean border officials immediately halted cross-border traffic while emergency services were dispatched to the scene.
In a notice sent to cross-border stakeholders and inter-agency teams, South African Revenue Service (SARS) official Ms. Memory Ndou confirmed the suspension of operations, noting that safety considerations took precedence under the circumstances. “There is currently a stranded LP Gas tanker at the Shell garage, thereby posing a potential explosion hazard. Emergency teams have been deployed and are preparing to transfer the gas safely to another tanker,” read part of her statement.
Authorities quickly established a perimeter around the affected area, evacuating non-essential personnel and advising truck drivers and other travellers to return to designated holding areas. Light vehicles and passenger buses were temporarily diverted, while travelers were urged to postpone journeys or seek alternative routes until the situation was under control.
However, the transfer of gas from the stranded tanker to another vehicle hit an unexpected snag after a mechanical failure affected the replacement truck. This caused a delay in the hazardous materials recovery operation, further extending the temporary closure.
Traffic Resumes at Beitbridge Border Post After Gas Tanker Scare Temporarily Shuts Operations
In an evening update, Ms. Ndou confirmed that despite the mechanical hitch, emergency response teams had secured the site and that there was no longer an immediate threat of explosion. “The gas transfer process has been temporarily halted due to a mechanical issue. Operations are scheduled to resume Tuesday morning once the issue has been resolved. In the meantime, cargo operations recommenced at 17:30 yesterday,” she noted.
This latest incident highlights the growing risks posed by the transportation of hazardous materials through high-traffic transit corridors like Beitbridge, which serves as the main commercial gateway between South Africa and Zimbabwe. The Beitbridge Border Post is the busiest land crossing in Southern Africa, handling thousands of vehicles and travellers daily. On average, it processes around 1,000 cargo trucks, 200 buses, 2,000 private vehicles and over 15,000 human travellers on normal days. These numbers can triple during peak holiday seasons and long weekends.
This marks the second time in recent months that gas-related issues have disrupted operations at Beitbridge. In May 2024, a gas leak incident on the Zimbabwean side of the border led to the evacuation of the light vehicle and pedestrian terminal. That incident, however, was resolved within a matter of hours, allowing normal operations to resume without major impact.
Border officials have since reiterated their commitment to prioritising public safety without compromising the flow of regional trade and human movement. A SARS representative stated that measures were being put in place to strengthen the management of hazardous materials in transit. “We continue to work closely with all stakeholders to enhance emergency preparedness and ensure a swift, coordinated response to any safety risks, especially those involving dangerous goods,” the official said.
Meanwhile, traffic has gradually returned to normal, with both commercial freight and passenger vehicles now being processed through the border. Long-distance haulage operators and cross-border transport associations welcomed the swift response by emergency services but also called for improved contingency planning to avoid prolonged delays in future incidents.
“We appreciate the urgency with which this matter was handled, but it also highlights the need for constant readiness, especially at such a strategic crossing point,” said one cross-border logistics coordinator.
With regional trade and mobility increasingly dependent on reliable and secure border infrastructure, the Beitbridge gas tanker scare has once again underscored the importance of having robust systems in place to deal with emergencies — not only to protect lives but also to preserve the flow of commerce across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
Source- Bulawayo24
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