Beitbridge office preclears on both sides of the border

As Ziegler South Africa prepares to celebrate its first year of operation in South Africa, managing director Paul Lawrence is upbeat about the year ahead with project work in and out of Africa featuring high on the demand list. “We’ve had a lot of enquiries as far as the Congo for requests to move products like machinery and even feed for the development of the farming community – which is all new business. “We’re still concentrating on Zimbabwe and Mozambique and will develop from there,” he told FTW. A key part of the company’s overborder value proposition is its on-site office at Beitbridge, says Lawrence. “We are the only global logistics provider on the SA side of the border and the BBR division is one of the few agents at Beitbridge that holds a special road bond with Sars. “This allows us to process and move in-bond export consignments out of South Africa into the region using our road bond,” he told FTW. “An additional facility that we offer at Beitbridge is the processing of cross-border procedures required by the Zimbabwe revenue authority,” he added. “This includes CVGs, insurances, gate passes and the like – and this service is facilitated through us on a preclearance basis. In essence we therefore offer 100% preclearance on both sides of the border, which ensures no delay in expediting shipments north and south. In a nutshell, by the time a vehicle and cargo arrives at Beitbridge, it is ready to be dispatched. “As a whole Ziegler SA is accredited and registered to process Sars-compliant declarations anywhere in South Africa, through any land border.” The opening of an office at Groblersbrug – which has been on the agenda for some time – is now on the backburner, says Lawrence, because customs modernisation has significantly streamlined clearance procedures. “All our business is currently handled by the Beitbridge office.” In terms of the budget that was put together for the year, Lawrence is more than satisfied with results achieved. “We have over the past year managed to integrate a lot of our systems with Ziegler. This is ongoing and we expect to be fully integrated by our financial year-end in February. “We are moving forward and growing – and have done very well in terms of new sales.” Growth in general as well as niche cargo is the focus for the year ahead, with a big account just signed up with a chemicals company. CAPTION Paul Lawrence ... ‘Accredited and registered to process Sars-compliant declarations anywhere in South Africa.’