Dear Mabs
My husband and I deferred our holiday to the beginning of February. We wanted to enjoy our vacation once people were back at work and accommodation was affordable. I booked our accommodation and activities directly since we were planning a self-drive holiday to Mozambique, via eSwatini. When we got to the border in eSwatini, the requirements were different from our previous trips. Over and above the car registration and proof of valid insurance, they demanded a letter from our car’s financier permitting us to cross the border with the car. We kicked up a fuss and were shunted from one office to the next, without any solution. This was on the South African side.
After many arguments, we were denied entry into eSwatini and had to turn back. Unfortunately, it was already too late to go through the Kosi Bay border and drive directly into Mozambique. In any case, they told us that the requirement is the same and meant to curb rampant car theft across the Mozambican border. We were deeply disappointed to lose our hard-earned money and the holiday we were most looking forward to. Is there any truth to these regulations or were these officials looking for a bribe?
Mabs answers:
I am so sorry to hear of the ordeal you had to endure. I was aware of rental companies refusing to allow their cars to be driven across our borders. However, I had not heard of this requirement for privately owned vehicles until I received your question. I immediately reached out to travel agent colleagues who book tours to Mozambique to enquire. It turns out that this is a new requirement that has been introduced to protect assets that are still under finance.
Remember, until you have fully settled your debt, the vehicle belongs to the financier and they are the titleholders of eNatis documents. However, this does not seem like it was meant to punish holidaymakers but is a precautionary measure. Sadly, they have not been great with their communication, resulting in innocent people losing their holidays. It just leaves a sour taste in the mouth. Going forward, you will need to reach out to your financier and ask them to send you a letter permitting you to cross the border. This is over and above having a valid passport, proof of car registration, valid car insurance, a fire extinguisher, a reflective triangle and two visibility vests.
