Moves to stamp out illicit trade on SA/Swazi border

MBABANE – The South African and Swazi customs authorities pledged to give urgent attention to illicit crossborder activities when Thomas Moyane, Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service (Sars), met his Swazi counterpart, Dumsani Masilela, Commissioner General of the Swaziland Revenue Authority (SRA), in Swaziland recently. Masilela and Moyane did not disclose any new initiatives to combat illicit trade but used as an example of bilateral cooperation reformed VAT procedures at border posts intended to prevent double taxation on SA goods purchased by Swazis. “We recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding between our countries based on the Value Added Tax agreement. This agreement is intended to operationalise how we handle VAT incurred on (Swazi) purchases in South Africa,” said Moyane. “Regional integration is a must and it must happen because it is a pillar upon which economies are grown – and it also allows trade facilitation,” he said. Masilela and Moyane both urged expedited efforts to allow their shared border posts to operate on a 24/7 basis. About 90% of goods imported into Swaziland originate from South Africa or pass through South Africa from other sources en route to Swaziland.