South Africa's border wall: A costly blame game against Mozambique for crime
The South African government continues to invest millions in the construction of a border wall with Mozambique, citing cross-border crime control as the primary justification. However, this approach raises questions about the real effectiveness of the project and the underlying responsibility for the rise in criminal activity. The project, which has already cost over 50 million rand (approximately $2.6 million) in its first phase, is expected to total 270 million rand (about $15 million) to cover a 25 km stretch along the northeastern border of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).
Siboniso Duma, head of the South African Department of Public Works, insists that securing this border is critical due to its strategic location in the uMkhanyakude district, an area with significant tourism and investment. However, by placing the blame for cross-border crime squarely on Mozambique, South African authorities appear to overlook the domestic issues that contribute to the country's rising crime rates. Duma’s statement that the wall has significantly reduced the number of stolen vehicles crossing into Mozambique—“Last year alone, 30 stolen vehicles per month crossed into Mozambique”—seems more like an attempt to justify a costly project than a true solution to the problem.
Since the project's launch in 2018, the wall has been promoted as a way to limit vehicle trafficking and other crimes. Yet, the decision to terminate the contract with one of the companies involved due to non-compliance raised doubts about the project’s management and its actual usefulness. The first phase, covering 8 km, is expected to be completed by December, but given the high costs involved, the question arises: Is this barrier truly a solution, or just a symbol of misguided policies?
The project is being developed in three phases, but rather than focusing on effective cooperation between the two countries to address the root causes of crime, the South African government has chosen to build physical walls in an attempt to isolate itself from problems that also stem from internal factors. While Duma acknowledged Mozambique’s efforts to combat crime, the insistence on building the wall suggests that South Africa is more interested in expensive, symbolic projects than in tackling the real challenges.
Moreover, although the government portrays the project as an opportunity for local development—with 40 youths trained and employed through the National Youth Service Programme—the reality is that this massive investment could have been better allocated towards cooperative security initiatives between the two countries, or to address the social issues that fuel crime.
