South Africa losing R10 million a day

South Africa suspended operations at its main border crossing with Mozambique, a key coal and chrome export hub, as election-related protests flared in the southeast African nation.

Demonstrators on the Mozambican side, angered by the result of the country’s October 9 elections, blocked the route that often processes more than 1,000 trucks a day en route to Maputo’s port.

Over the weekend, they also forced authorities to shut down two power plants and targeted other key infrastructure. 

The Lebombo border port of entry has halted operations for general cargo processing and passenger movements, South Africa’s Border Management Authority said in a statement Monday.

“Transporters are urged not to dispatch new vehicles to the port until further notice,” Jane Thupana, acting commissioner at the authority, said.

The stoppage marks an escalation in blockages at the crossing, as trucks were previously able to enter Mozambique after protests ended around 4 p.m. daily. 

The closure is expected to cost South Africa R10 million a day, the Road Freight Association said. It will also reduce a key source of foreign exchange to Mozambique.

Election unrest has rocked Mozambique since October 21, with local groups reporting more than 100 deaths as police crackdown on demonstrators with teargas and live bullets.

Opposition leader Venâncio Mondlane, who claims to have won the presidential vote in which electoral authorities placed him second with 20%, and observers said was rigged, has been behind the calls for protest. Last week, he called for another seven days of demonstrations.