Vusumuzi DubeThupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
THE South African Revenue Services (SARS) Customs said yesterday that it had put contingency measures in place at border posts during a strike by its workers to ensure there was minimal disruption to trade facilitation.
Since Monday last week, revenue and customs workers have been on a go slow demanding a 12 percent upward salary review from their employer.
However, things got to a head, when SARS offered its workers a 1,7 percent pay rise.
As a result, cargo has been piling up at most ports of entries, especially at Beitbridge, where senior managers who fall outside the collective bargaining forum are holding fort.
Long and slow-moving queues of commercial trucks have become common on major roads leading to Bulawayo and Harare in Zimbabwe and to Musina in South Africa.
In a statement yesterday, SARS said it had the situation under control.
“SARS will ensure that the following capabilities remain available throughout the duration of the industrial action: the processing of declarations will continue as normal; physical inspections of goods will continue as normal, with inspection finalisation being centralised and managed on a 24-hour basis.
“In addition to that, trade has been engaged about temporary measures instituted in relation to the authorisation and management of Sadc certificates of origin for cargo transported across land borders.”
SARS said border operations will proceed as normal with the available staff supported by a number of officials deployed from its head office and other less busy regions.
The revenue authority also encouraged their clients to make use of alternative ports should a need arise.
@tupeyo
Online Reporter