... but there's still room for improvement THE SLOW pace of customs clearance procedures at Johannesburg International Airport (JIA) - which has had forwarders champing at the bit as import cargoes wait up to five days to clear - has been speeded up, according to Itchie Shaik, project leader at customs. "So far, so good," he said. "Our man (EDI specialist Hennie Marais from Pretoria head office) has been there two weeks, and some temporary staff members have been appointed. Things now seem to be looking good." Shaik also assured FTW that - with this extra management and staff due to stay on till at least year-end - he doesn't expect any more problems keeping up with the pre-Christmas rush. But the forwarding community is hesitant about calling an all clear. "The situation is certainly much improved," said Edward Little, executive director of the SA Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF). But, despite Marais' efforts to sort out the staff shortage - aligned with the introduction of a new "teaming" system - JIA customs is still not up to par, according to Little. "When I checked it out, parts of the new system were up to date," he said, "but other parts were still being worked on, and still not up to speed." There are still some delays - in a transport mode where hours count. "I'll grant they're making an effort," said Little, "but you have to question if the temps are qualified at what they're doing. They are having to learn on the move, as it were." However, Little agrees that things are moving in the right direction.
