Musina a bustling economic hub

Added: 2026-06-02

[00:00:00]Downtown Musina is a whirlwind of activities as this as the South Africa's northernmost town welcomes thousands of cross-border shoppers and traders who come to buy commodities such as food, hardware materials, and clothes. The buyers and traders say South Africa offers a wider variety of affordable consumer goods. They say many important commodities are either unavailable or expensive back home. [snorts] >> As far as I'm concerned, it is very easy and convenient as far as I'm concerned because as of myself, I also am a transporter. I transport people from Zimbabwe coming and buying here. They buy and sell. As far as I'm concerned, uh it's very reliable and convenient.

[00:00:45]>> I love coming here because things here are cheaper than in Zimbabwe and some important things are not available there.

[00:00:54]>> We come here to buy things from South Africa. They are a bit cheaper than in Zimbabwe.

[00:00:59]But um [snorts] our major challenge is at the border.

[00:01:03]And even the environment here is a bit difficult because the environment is not conducive for people to come and buy.

[00:01:09]Why? Because there are so many There are so many people who who who do not even want people to to come here. Like we are experiencing some some many thieves here, right? But but in terms of prices, the prices are they are quite convenient because people buy here for buy things from here to resell in Zimbabwe.

[00:01:28]>> Some business people in Musina say people from neighboring countries are the mainstay of their businesses.

[00:01:35]>> What we are doing here is we are selling for Zimbabweans. Once Zimbabweans not coming to South Africa this side, we'll be not having any job. You see? You can even see these all shops. Once you see that border is closed, no one will be opening No one will be running business here around.

[00:01:53]>> The Limpopo Chamber of Commerce and Industries says cross-border buyers pump billions of rand into the South African economy annually.

[00:02:02]>> These cross-border shoppers and commercial traders do far more than just buy groceries. They act as decentralized exporters. By purchasing South African manufactured goods, textiles, and building materials directly from local wholesalers, they pump billions of rands into our retail sector and keep thousands of local SMMEs alive. Now, if we were to look at this from the import-export point of view, their massive purchasing power is the literal foundation justifying mega projects like the Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone and the multi-billion rand upgrades to the Beitbridge border.

[00:02:41]>> Cross-border buyers also inject millions of rand into the local hospitality industry as they sometimes visit for tourism. Rutendo Bobore, SABC News, Musina.