South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Naledi Pandor said South Africa will keep its borders open to ensure that the import and export of goods continue despite the weeklong unrest and looting in the neighbouring country.
The minister made the remarks here Thursday during a press briefing following diplomatic and political consultations with her Namibian counterpart, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.
Pandor said her country is working closely with the business sector to ensure that goods continue to move in and out of the country, adding that it is South Africa’s duty to ensure that the free flow of goods between countries in the SADC region and within South Africa continue.
“We are keeping the borders open. In fact the biggest trading partners of South Africa are on the African continent so we have a duty to restore law and order in order that economic activities can continue,” she said.
Pandor went on to say the South African government is acting to restore law and order because this is very important to their economic activities and in attempts to restore order, over 1 000 people have been arrested.
“I think at this point we should be worried at the nature of violence and the nature of criminality because these things sometimes spill over. South Africa’s economy was just beginning to recover from the worst effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and this will further reverse our economy,” Pandor added.
She said such activities should never be repeated, noting that people have lost jobs and this too will lead to a further step back of the economy.
The ransacking of shops started in the KwaZulu-Natal Province following the imprisonment of South Africa’s former President Jacob Zuma last week, when he was sentenced to 15 months in prison for contempt of court.
About 72 people reportedly lost their lives as a result of the violence.
According to Nandi-Ndaitwah, no Namibian lives were lost in the neighbouring country.
“I spoke to the ambassador yesterday and he informed me that no Namibian lives were lost,” said Nandi-Ndaitwah.
Source: Namibia Press Agency
