SOUTH AFRICAN REVENUE SERVICE
MEDIA RELEASE NUMBER 6 OF 1998

26 AUGUST 1998

COMMENCEMENT OF VAT COLLECTIONS AT LAND BORDER POSTS - PROJECT BIYA

Cabinet announced last year that it had approved that the number of land border posts which may be used to import and export commercial goods was going to be reduced to 19. The remaining posts will be used for non-commercial purposes and will be staffed by Home Affairs (Immigration) and SAPS (Border Police).

The logistics are now well in place and the commencement of VAT collection will begin on 1 October 1998 at the designated Namibian and Botswana Border Posts and the Swaziland and Lesotho Border Posts on 1 November 1998. Houses and the basic infrastructure have been erected at the designated border posts in a rapid deployment programme. Staff have been and are being appointed and trained for the border posts. The necessary computer equipment has been installed and arrangements have been made with SAPS to share their network.

This decision to canalise the movement of commercial goods has major advantages in a number of areas.

SARS policy, legislation and procedures are nearing the final stages. Discussions with the BLNS countries and South African role players will be finalised on 25, 26 and 27 August 1998. A revised CCA1 (common customs area) form will be available for use after final negotiations with the BLNS Administrations, but it is envisaged that use of the revised CCA1 form will only be mandatory from 15 January 1999.

Some features and aspects of the deployment operation and scheme are:

List of designated posts:

Botswana

Lesotho

Namibia

Swaziland

ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR THE SOUTH AFRICAN REVENUE SERVICE
PRETORIA

Contact persons:

Christo Henning
Tel:(012) 315-5464
Fax:(012) 325-5306

Robert Sandla
Tel:(012) 314-9798
Fax:(012) 325-7992



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