Temporary Closure at Skilpadshek and Pioneer Border Posts for Cross-Border Safety Simulation

Lobatse, Botswana – The Skilpadshek and Pioneer Border Posts will be temporarily closed tomorrow, 23 September 2025, from 09:00 to 10:00, to accommodate a joint cross-border road incident simulation exercise.

The Trans Kalahari Corridor Secretariat (TKCS), working with authorities in both Botswana and South Africa, will conduct a dangerous goods road incident simulation aimed at improving awareness, preparedness, and response capacity.

The exercise is designed to strengthen the ability of border officials and emergency teams to respond effectively to incidents involving hazardous cargo. It will also test inter-agency coordination and operational readiness, ensuring both countries are better prepared to act within the critical “golden hour” following an incident.

According to the TKCS, the simulation supports the broader goals of the Trans Kalahari Corridor Management Committee (TKCMC) to build stronger strategic partnerships between the public and private sectors. These partnerships are key to implementing the Memorandum of Understanding that guides the development and management of the corridor.

- Advertisement -

Work is already underway to develop a shared standard for incident management along the corridor. This framework will allow emergency services from either side of the border to respond immediately and jointly to dangerous goods incidents, regardless of where they occur.

Read | Martin’s Drift Border Post Reopens After Being Closed Due to Flooding

The TKCS said tomorrow’s exercise represents a practical step towards enhancing cross-border safety and compliance with both national and international road safety standards. Media representatives are invited to attend and cover the event.

The TKC Secretariat, headquartered in Windhoek, serves as a tripartite transboundary management body, driving regional integration across SADC, SACU, and AUDA-NEPAD through safer and more efficient transport corridors.