Beitbridge border post - ALERT

TRAVEL through the Beitbridge border post between South Africa and Zimbabwe is being delayed due to industrial action by South African home affairs officials.

Tempers are expected to run high at the Beitbridge border post this festive season as motorists wanting to enter Zimbabwe are having to wait in long queues while their documents are processed.

Some travellers indicated that they have been waiting more than 24 hours.

SA customs officials are said to have embarked on a go-slow on the South African side of the border.

Two sources at the border post said yesterday that a go-slow by home affairs staff was delaying travellers by up to five hours.

The go-slow started last week and border staff were taking three times longer than usual to process passports and permits.

A Zimbabwean immigration official, who asked not to be named, said the go-slow started last week and South African customs officials indicated to them that they have embarked on a go-slow.

"The delays are on South African side of the border, specifically at the home affairs department. It is taking up to five hours for a passport to be stamped ," the official said.