MOVE TO EASE BORDER CONGESTION, BOOST TRADE: ESWATINI, SA SEEK TO CUT PROCESSING TIME BY 20%

OSHOEK – In a groundbreaking move to ease border congestion and boost trade, the Eswatini National Trade Facilitation Committee (ENTFC) have signed a Joint Action Plan (JAP) with South Africa.

The signing ceremony took place at Ndalo Lodge, Oshoek yesterday. It is an agreement signed by the Border Management Authority (BMA) and the South African Revenue Service (SARS) and Eswatini through ENTFC. With the joint action plan, the ENTFC and its partners aim to cut the border processing times by at least 20 per cent before December 2026.
It is worth noting that currently, about 300 trucks pass through Ngwenya-Oshoek each day, with processing times averaging 2 hours and 28 minutes for imports into Eswatini and 1 hour and 39 minutes for exports to South Africa.

The bilateral joint action plan will include commitments to enhance the existing approach to managing the borders including the harmonisation of policy and procedures and joint organisation of resources and structures to support efficient movements and trade facilitation. South Africa has already signed the JAP with the Republic of Mozambique in 2023 and significant improvements on trade facilitation were realised.

Challenges

The joint action plan marks a significant step in strengthening trade ties between Eswatini and South Africa by simplifying border procedures and reducing wait times at the Ngwenya-Oshoek Border Post - the main trade corridor linking Eswatini and South Africa. This plan, supported by the World Bank, will address challenges at the border, making crossings smoother, faster and more secure for both travellers and cargo. The ENTFC’s Trade Facilitation Roadmap outlines a clear strategy to simplify and synchronise border operations through 2026.

The World Bank has been instrumental in this effort, engaging experts to assess current practices and develop a collaborative strategy for both Eswatini and South Africa, with the ultimate objective of developing Ngwenya-Oshoek into a One Stop Border Post (OSBP) This new, coordinated approach is expected to enhance the efficiency and reliability of trade across the border, reduce delays and improve the overall experience for everyone who relies on the Ngwenya-Oshoek Border.

The ENTFC is committed to driving economic growth through improved trade facilitation, and this agreement with South Africa represents a significant milestone on that path.
Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade Melusi Masuku highlighted that this has been a journey dating back to February, where both countries had a workshop and border visit to physically assess the operations at the two borders, Ngwenya and Oshoek. “We are grateful to the World Bank Group for continuing to support the two countries under the Southern African Regional Trade Facilitation Project, which aims to aid trade facilitation reforms in the SACU region,” said Masuku.

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