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Border row pits Pretoria against Windhoek

    JOHANNESBURG

    A dispute appears to be simmering between Namibia and South Africa about the exact location of the southern border between the two countries, IOL reported. A relocation of the border could affect diamond mining activities in the area. “We are not sure where the border is,” Rudolf Isaks, the surveyor-general of Namibia, said at the weekend.

    “It is still to be negotiated at a higher level. We suspect the border has not been fixed yet,” Isaks added. South Africa has always viewed the northern bank of the Orange River as the border. However, Namibia’s constitution states: “The national territory of Namibia’s southern boundary shall extend to the middle of the Orange River.”

    Simphiwe Dhlamini, a spokesperson for the Northern Cape government, said that while President, Nelson Mandela had indicated to Namibia that the southernmost border would again be looked at.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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