Concern over new Swazi driver regs

Drivers of cars with
Swaziland registration
plates have expressed
concern over the recent
announcement by the SA
Police Service (SAPS)
that they must carry their
‘Blue Book’ that shows
they are the vehicle owner.
Otherwise, a certified
letter from the owner
is required. The new
requirement is intended
to reduce cross-border
movement of stolen
vehicles.
However, drivers of
SA-registered cars have
a much more onerous
task getting their vehicles
through a Swazi border
post. Use of ‘informal’
border crossings is not
advised; Swazi soldiers
shot dead two SA drivers
in November trying to
sneak into the country.
The paperwork required
to drive an SA vehicle into
the country is so extensive
that local tourism
officials fear SA visitors
will be discouraged
from a Swaziland trip.
SA provides 80% of
Swaziland’s visitors.
According to one
tourism agency advising
SA drivers to Swaziland:
“A certified copy of vehicle
registration/vehicle licence
papers is acceptable at the
border posts. This must be
accompanied by a letter
from the bank giving you
authorisation to take the
vehicle across the border,
and must indicate dates
(of travel). Both the bank
letter and licence papers
should be signed by a
Commissioner of Oaths. If
you are not the registered
owner of the vehicle, you
need to carry an affidavit
from the police giving you
authorisation from the
financial institution/owner
to take the vehicle abroad.
If you are travelling in
a rented car you have to
have a letter from the
rental company giving
you permission to take the
vehicle out of the country.”
At Swazi customs, a car
pass given at the border
gate is stamped, and the
car owner is required to file
a temporary importation
of vehicle. A R50 car fee is
then paid, the pink copy
of which is surrendered
along with the car pass to
the officer who inspects the
vehicle for contraband.
CAPTION
Extensive paperwork now required to drive an SA vehicle
into Swaziland