THE NATIONAL Inter-Departmental Structure for Border Control (NIDS) has been perceived by many clearing and forwarding agents as an enemy, but nothing is further from the truth, says NIDS executive director Brian van Niekerk.
Quite frankly what we are trying to do is to get nearer to them and assist in making their working lives much easier.
As an example, we have recently circulated among them a survey which we are undertaking to enable us to get a better picture of their thinking and their planning. We have asked them to tell us how they see South Africa and its internal operations in the future. The whole objective is to enable us to understand them better.
But our efforts have been interpreted as an attack on them. We have been told outright by some that it is purely an attempt on our part to interfere in their workings.
The authors of the survey are Dr Anthony Minnaar of the Technikon RSA and Professor Mike Hough, director of strategic studies at Tukkies. We couldn't have brought two more highly regarded individuals on board to design the questionnaire.
What we are trying to get across is that all parties involved in cross border operations have to understand changes that are taking place. There is a bright future for all concerned, but it means working more closely together to achieve that target.
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