President Cyril Ramaphosa has sent security adviser Sydney Mufamadi to Mozambique as a special envoy to discuss escalating post-election violence there that is threatening regional stability.
A former safety and security minister, Mufamadi is expected to engage with all stakeholders in the conflict, which has left more than 260 dead after a disputed election result that returned the governing Frelimo party to power.
SA’s National Joint Operational & Intelligence Structure (NatJoints) said in a statement that it had intensified operations at the SA-Mozambique border to prevent and combat “any opportunistic crimes” that may arise as a result of the unrest.
“The government recognises the interconnected nature of regional security and is determined to uphold its responsibilities in fostering peace and stability in Southern Africa,” it said.
“Both nations are leveraging their strong diplomatic ties to ensure that appropriate measures are implemented to restore order and enhance security in the affected regions.”
The neighbouring country is experiencing a political crisis after its disputed October elections. The latest wave of unrest began last Monday after Mozambique’s highest court upheld the victory of Frelimo’s presidential candidate, Daniel Chapo.
SA minister of international relations & co-operation Ronald Lamola last week called for calm and dialogue after his bilateral meeting with Mozambican authorities over the conflict.
On Friday, JSE-listed diversified miner Gemfields announced that it had halted operations at Montepuez Ruby Mining (MRM) in northern Mozambique after more than 200 people took advantage of the protests and invaded its operations on Christmas eve.
“Given the company’s priority remains the safety and security of its personnel, a number of people were temporarily relocated to off-site locations given the increased risk profile,” Gemfields said then.
The company said MRM maintained a sizeable presence on site of “more than 500 people across employees, contractors and security components,” adding that it intended to return to normal operations before the end of the year.
Petrochemicals giant Sasol has also had to scale back its operations at Temane. Industrial users in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Gauteng rely on Sasol, the monopoly supplier of SA’s natural gas, which it sources from its Pande and Temane gas fields in Mozambique and transports via the Rompco pipeline.
Sasol also supplies methane-rich gas produced at its plant in Secunda to KZN and Mpumalanga via the Lilly and SWM pipelines.
“Sasol has reduced production of natural gas at its central processing facility (CPF) to maintain the safety of our people and assets.”
The CPF has informed various gas users and its customers, including Sasol, that it is not able to supply gas at full production rates to maintain stability of the gas value chain infrastructure and pipeline network.
“The situation around the CPF is calm and there has been no security or perimeter breach. Our priority is the safety of our people, service providers and communities,” said Sasol.
“We are engaging with government stakeholders both in SA and Mozambique, and we continue to monitor the situation.”
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