The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has noted a number of incorrect news reports since last Thursday which relate to the operations of SARS Customs.
Given factual inaccuracies in some of the news items, SARS finds it necessary to clarify the role of the customs operations at border posts, airports and other points of entry into South Africa.
In terms of its legal mandate, SARS has two critical functions: the efficient and effective collection of taxes or revenue on behalf of Government and control over the import, export and manufacture movement, storage, or use of certain goods.
SARS therefore has the sole responsibility to manage trade, i.e. regulating the imports, exports or goods in transit.
These functions may include searching the luggage and persons of passengers. SARS does request of passengers to indicate if they have any items to declare.
In its role of protecting South Africa's borders, SARS works closely with other Government Departments, most notably the Department of Home Affairs and the South African Police Service (SAPS) at all border posts. All these agencies have clearly defined roles.
Where reasonable suspicion exists that goods may have been undeclared or under-declared, a passenger, vehicle or cargo container can be physically searched.
SARS Customs officials DO NOT check passports of passengers for verification and DO NOT stamp passports to indicate that a passenger has entered or left South Africa.
In view of this, reports that Customs officials were not on duty during the early hours of the morning of Thursday 15 December to check the passports of passengers at Johannesburg International Airport, are therefore incorrect. SARS can confirm that its Customs officials were on duty at the time.
Another news report this morning indicated that motorists were frustrated by long queues outside the Beit Bridge border post between South Africa and Zimbabwe. This report also confuses the role of Customs and other Government agencies.
SARS can confirm that at the Beit Bridge border post four teams (with 12 officials each) were on duty since the weekend to monitor the movement of passengers while three cargo teams (with 6 officials each) were inspecting cargo and vehicles. These teams were divided into 3 shifts respectively.
SARS remains confident that its operations at Beit Bridge or any other border post, will not unduly affect the movements of goods or people. SARS also extended working hours at border gates around the country in anticipation of an increase in the number of goods and people, as follows:
| NAME OF OFFICE | HOURS OF OPERATION | FROM | TO |
| Kopfontein / ZCCC | 06h00 to 00h00 | 21/12/2005 | 24/12/2005 |
| Groblersbridge | 08h00 to 18h00 | 19/12/2005 | 31/12/2005 |
| Beit Bridge | 24 hours operations | 19/12/2005 | 31/12/2005 |
| Oshoek | 07h00 to 24h00 06h00 to 22h00 | 20/12/2005 25/12/2005 | 24/12/2005 25/12/2005 |
| Nerston | 08h00 to 18h00 | 19/12/2005 | 31/12/2005 |
| Mahamba | 07h00 to 22h00 06h00 to 24h00 06h00 to 22h00 07h00 to 22h00 07h00 to 23h00 | 19/12/2005 23/12/2005 24/12/2005 01/01/2006 02/01/2006 | 22/12/2005 23/12/2005 31/12/2005 01/01/2006 02/01/2006 |
For further media enquiries, please contact Adrian Lackay, SARS Communications on 012 422 6037 or 083 388 2580
ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR THE SOUTH AFRICAN REVENUE SERVICE
PRETORIA