Cross-border passenger transport operators on the Maputo (Mozambique) Durbanm (South Africa) route suspended journeys indefinitely last Sunday, following the vandalization of vehicles with Mozambican license plates in South African territory, according to the head of the Mozambican transport operators' commission, Jonas Fumo.

"Transporters with Mozambican license plates are afraid to travel to South Africa via the Ponta d'Ouro border," said Fumo, quoted by the "Carta" portal.

Mozambican vehicles are being raided by unknown individuals on the Maputo-Durban route. On Saturday, protesters set fire to six vehicles belonging to Mozambican citizens, including a passenger bus carrying around 35 people to Durban. The attack took place about 90 kilometers from Ponta d'Ouro, on the border between Mozambique and the South African province of Kwazulu-Natal. As well as setting fire to the vehicles, the assailants stole money and other goods from the passengers.

"Vehicles are burning, people are dying and I only escaped by 300 meters," said João Mondlane, a transport operator.

He said that he escaped the raid thanks to the warning of another driver who was driving in the opposite direction. Mondlane then made his way to Maputo via the road that passes through the kingdom of e-Swatini. By the usual route, his arrival would have been on Saturday, but the bypass meant that he arrived on Sunday.

The fear of traveling to Durban affects both passengers and transport operators. Motorists say that Maputo's terminals "are empty because no one wants to risk [traveling]".

By midday on Sunday, there were only three vehicles in downtown Maputo, all belonging to South African companies operating the Maputo-Durban route.