Fines for non-legitimate offences a problem

Educating exporters around the necessary cross border documentation and duties as well as the issues that can be experienced during transportation of cargo is extremely important for efficient operations, says Sandra de Kock of Destrans. Established in 2004, Destrans transports anything from timber to citrus products between South Africa and Mozambique and recently ventured into Botswana. “Because shippers are often unaware of the time delays experienced at borders there is an expectation that cargo must be delivered the next day. It is crucial to educate the client on the reality of crossing borders so that the expectation is realistic.” She says while customs clearance has improved tremendously in recent years they still face delays at border posts while “fines” issued for non-legitimate offences continue to be a battle. “Therefore we need to make sure our clients’ knowledge of the cross border documentation and duties is up to date so that we are in the right when we reach border posts. We insist on copies of cross border documentation prior to loading the vehicle to ensure all is in order.” De Kock says before their vehicles leave South Africa they also immediately contact the clearing agent on the Mozambique side to ensure they are aware of the load that is destined for the country so that they start pushing for the duties from the client. That pre-empts any further delays. She says the Mozambique route has continued to be extremely busy with especially Tete becoming a hub. “There are concerns though around the bridge and how long it is going to last with all the heavy duty traffic it is experiencing at present,” she says. Tete, the capital of the Tete Province in Mozambique, is situated on the Zambezi River and is the site of a one-kilometer long suspension bridge.