Customs addresses DA550 delays

A NEW procedure at customs in dealing with DA550 documents is causing horrendous delays for cross-border road transporters. According to Kevin Gesseau of Ikamiji Freight, one of the majors in this trucking trade, the authorities have changed the system Ð intended to improve this procedure. But instead, things have got worse. "Basically," he told FTW, "instead of queuing up and getting your DA550 stamped on the same day, you now have to submit it to customs and leave it for them to process. "They seem to be taking their time about this, and it's taking anything up to two-to-three days to get things done." But, Gesseau added, there have been several meetings to try to sort things out. "We've met customs a few times," he said, "and they did have a Stakeholders Seminar on the subject last week. "But things haven't got any better, and we've still got to wait for our DA550s to be processed."