Mozambican nationals cross into South Africa ahead of a planned nationwide strike. Photo credit: @thetruthpanther on X
Visible queues have formed at South African border posts as Mozambican nationals seek to enter the country before a planned shutdown action brings uncertainty and potential disruption to daily life in Mozambique.
South African border posts are experiencing a notable surge in crossings from Mozambican nationals ahead of a planned nationwide strike in Mozambique scheduled for Monday 5 May 2026. Journalist and crime analyst Yusuf Abramjee shared video footage on social media showing large numbers of Mozambican nationals crossing into South Africa at the border. The footage, which has been widely circulated online, shows visible queues of people making their way across the border ahead of the planned action.
Large queues have been observed forming at key points of entry as travellers move to cross into South Africa before the shutdown action begins. The movement has placed visible pressure on border infrastructure and raised concern among authorities about the potential for further congestion as the strike deadline approaches.
Why Mozambicans Are Crossing
The planned shutdown action has created widespread uncertainty among ordinary Mozambicans about access to goods, services and movement within the country. Previous strikes and protest actions in Mozambique have seen roads blocked, businesses shuttered and public transport suspended, leaving many citizens unable to carry out daily activities for the duration of the action.
For those with family, business interests or employment connections to South Africa, crossing the border ahead of a planned shutdown represents a practical response to the uncertainty. The Lebombo border post, one of the busiest land crossings in the region, serves as a critical corridor for workers, traders and commuters moving between the two countries on a daily basis.
A Border With a History of Pressure
This is not the first time that political or social unrest in Mozambique has created pressure at South Africa’s border posts. During the prolonged post-election protests that gripped Mozambique between October 2024 and January 2025, the Lebombo border post was temporarily closed on multiple occasions as demonstrations on the Mozambican side blocked access to the crossing.
Those closures had significant economic consequences. The South African Road Freight Association estimated that each day of border closure cost South Africa approximately R10 million in lost trade and disrupted the movement of goods along one of the region’s most important commercial corridors. Mozambique, which depends heavily on imports from South Africa, also felt the strain of repeated disruptions to supply chains, with grocery stores in Maputo experiencing shortages during the most intense periods of unrest.
The Border Management Authority temporarily rerouted some traffic through alternative border posts during those disruptions, including through Eswatini’s Mananga border post, in an effort to maintain the flow of goods and people across the region.
Authorities Monitoring the Situation
South African border authorities are understood to be monitoring developments closely as the planned strike deadline approaches. The Border Management Authority had not issued a formal public statement on the current surge in crossings at the time of publication.
Travellers intending to use the Lebombo border post or other South Africa and Mozambique crossing points in the coming days are advised to check for updates from the Border Management Authority before travelling, as conditions at the border may change rapidly depending on how events unfold in Mozambique.
What Happens Next
Whether the planned strike action proceeds as announced, and the scale of its impact on Mozambican daily life and on the South African border, will become clearer in the hours ahead. Mzansi Today Live will continue to monitor this developing story and publish updates as the situation evolves.
Editors Note This is a developing story. The details and organisers of the planned strike action in Mozambique had not been officially confirmed by Mozambican authorities at the time of publication. Video footage showing conditions at the border was shared on social media by journalist and crime analyst Yusuf Abramjee. Mzansi Today Live will update this article as further information becomes available.