Botswana: BURS issues travel advisory for Pioneer Gate border post! [update]

update (05 March 2025): Protest actions on the N4 road at Lehurutshe between Zeerust and Skilpadshek have ended and the situation has normalized. Travellers are now free to use the Pioneer Gate border post (South Africa: Skilpadshek) for travel between Botswana and South Africa.

The Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS) has released a travel advisory regarding the Pioneer Gate border post (South Africa: Skilpadshek) between Botswana and South Africa. According to BURS, community protests are currently taking place on the South African side, so that the public is advised not to use the facility. The protests have led to the closure of N4 road at Lehurutshe between Zeerust and Skilpadshek. Travellers are advised to use alternative routes and ports of entry for travel between Botswana and South Africa.

Botswana/South Africa: Only two border posts remain open! [update]

update (09 January 2021): The Kopfontein Border near Zeerust in South Africa's North West Province has been reopened, after a confirmed coronavirus case was reported. As a result, the adjoining Tlokweng Border Post in Botswana was also temporarily closed and has now also been reopened (08 January 2021).
Botswana's Pioneer Gate Border Post has also been reopened on 06 January 2021.

According to the facebook page of Botswana's Government, the Kopfontein Border Post in South Africa which is adjoining to Botswana's Tlokweng Border Post has been temporarily closed with effect from 05 January 2021 until further notice. This therefore renders the Tlokweng Border Post to be temporarily closed. The South African Skilpadshek Border Post that is adjoining to Botswana's Pioneer Gate Border Post (Lobatse) has also been closed with immediate effect. Therefore the only routes to enter into and out of South Africa and Botswana are currently through Martins Drift Border Post (South Africa: Groblersbrug Border Post) and Ramatlabama Border Post respectively.

According to a previous announcement by the Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS) the Tlokweng Border Post has been closed on 05 January 2021 due to Covid-19 precautions that need to be undertaken.