Hot line cuts red tape for Western Cape shippers

A provincial hot line for red tape-related issues is making it easier to do business in the Western Cape. Alan Winde, Western Cape MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, has called on exporters to report bureaucratic hold-ups directly to his office. “Be it red tape around Customs, or getting a visa, or even just someone who is not replying to a request – if we want to be more competitive we have to create an environment where it is easy to do business.” He said while many of the issues encountered were of a national nature, through his department and its relationships with the national government departments, it was possible to fast-track some problems. “When it comes to the oil and gas sector for instance, we are working hard at eradicating some of the barriers,” he said. Customs requires that for all cargo entering the country for the oil and gas sector – regardless of whether it is only passing through and is not destined for South Africa – security must be lodged to cover any possible VAT amount. This process is not only timeconsuming but also requires large sums of money to be forked out as security “We are aware of the problems,” he said. Some industry experts told Winde this was one of the reasons why many of the oil rigs did not stop for repair work in Cape Town or Saldanha Bay. “Obviously an issue around Customs and Sars is not something we can change, but the Premier can take it up with the President – and we will if we prioritise it as one of the top issues in the province,” he said. “But to do so we need you as an industry to lodge those complaints and let us know exactly what is prohibiting you from being more competitive,” he told exporters in Cape Town recently. CAPTION Alan Winde … ‘working hard at eradicating some of the barriers.’