Beitbridge, Zimbabwe – The bustling Beitbridge border post, a critical gateway between Zimbabwe and South Africa, has temporarily suspended all traffic movement in both directions.
This precautionary measure comes after an LP gas tanker was left at a nearby Shell service station, raising concerns about a potential explosion hazard.
Emergency response teams are on the ground, working diligently to transfer the gas to another tanker. The South African Revenue Services (SARS) lead official at Beitbridge, Ms. Memory Ndou, confirmed the temporary halt in operations in a statement to inter-border agencies and stakeholders.
“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,” Ms. Ndou stated.
To ensure the safety of all individuals, border officials have been evacuated, and trucks at the gate are being cleared. Truck drivers have been advised to return to designated parking areas while the situation is being managed.
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The delicate process of transferring the gas was scheduled to commence at 3:30 PM CAT. To facilitate this, traffic officials have been instructed to stop all vehicle movement beyond Matombo on the Zimbabwean side, and Zimbabwean authorities have also been asked to halt traffic flow from their end.
An update on the duration of this operational pause and the expected resumption time will be released soon. This temporary closure is likely to cause delays for travellers and truck drivers, who are advised to plan accordingly, consider alternative routes if possible, or await further updates.
This incident marks the second time operations at the Beitbridge border have been disrupted due to gas-related concerns. A recent gas leak on the Zimbabwean side also caused a temporary halt in traffic, though that issue was swiftly resolved. ZiMetro News will continue to provide updates as the situation unfolds.
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