Maputo, 24 Mar (AIM) – The Mozambican Minister of the Interior, Arsénia Massingue, said on Thursday, in Maputo, that fifty seven cars stolen in South Africa and driven over the border into Mozambique will be returned to the South African authorities.
The return of these vehicles, according to the Maputo daily “Notícias”, is part of the effort to stop the wave of vandalism directed against Mozambican vehicles in South Africa, particularly on the route from Maputo to Durban.
“The South African authorities have already been here and we have delivered four cars stolen in that country”, said Massingue. “Right now, we are waiting for the documentation for the repatriation of another 57 stolen cars to South Africa. The South African police have opened five criminal cases related to the thefts. The Mozambican police also opened a case and arrested one individual”.
She was speaking after an audience with the Commission of International Relations of the Assembly of the Republic, the Mozambican Parliament.
The minister guaranteed that measures are being studied to end the mob attacks against Mozambican vehicles in South Africa. A temporary solution would be to allocate a police escort for vehicles crossing the border.
On this point, Massingue said she would soon have further talks with her South African counterpart so that there will be an escort for the Mozambican transporters. She recognised, however, that this is a palliative measure because there is still no effective solution.
South African authorities confirmed in February that the wave of vandalization against Mozambican vehicles in that country is retaliation for the theft of vehicles from South Africa to Mozambique.
According to the police authorities of that country, the population, especially in the regions where the vandalism occurs, complain about the growth of the car theft syndicate that is terrorizing the regions of Umhlabuyalingana and Hlabisa, near the border with Mozambique.
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