• The Big 5 Hlabisa Municipality is stepping up efforts to stop crime and smuggling into Mozambique, with roadblocks planned for the December holidays.
• Collaboration with law enforcement, including the Hawks, targets illegal crossings and stolen goods trafficking through Kosi Bay to neighbouring countries.

The Big 5 Hlabisa municipality is strengthening the fight against crime to prevent stolen goods being smuggled into neighbouring Mozambique.

Some of the crime fighting MN erasures include intercepting illegal foreigners crossing the border to Mozambique through Kosi Bay.

This was revealed by Mayor Comfort Khumalo during a community meeting held at kwaMnqobokazi village outside Hluhluwe in northern KZN.

Khumalo said that crime is very high in the area.

“As we are nearing the December holidays, we are going to stage road blocks along the main roads to make sure that no criminals are passing this area undetected,” said Khumalo.

The Hlabisa municipalities form a gateway to Mozambique through Kosi Bay.

In a response to written question to parliament, former Home Affairs minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi revealed that since July last year, the Border Management Authority had deployed 33 trained border guards attached to the Kosi Bay port of entry responsible for the management of the legitimate movement of people and goods.

Khumalo said that people are illegally crossing through their area to Swaziland and Mozambique.

“We are fighting crime and we really want to root out criminality – not only illegal foreigners but even our own citizens,” said Khumalo.

The Hlabisa area is close to South Africa’s neighbouring countries.

At some point stolen eThekwini street light that cost over R1.8-million were found in Hlabisa.

Last year, the Hawks conducted a joint operation at Kosi Bay port of entry when they stopped a vehicle pulling a trailer. The vehicle was coming from South Africa to Mozambique with illegal foreigners.

“We are working with the Hawks and the SAPS to make sure that we deal with criminals who are not illegal foreigners necessarily but all those who are not abiding with the laws of this country,” said Khumalo.

Pictured above: Hlabisa Big 5 mayor Comfort Khumalo addressing community members about the road block against illegal border crossings.

Source: Supplied