One-stop border post agreement 'months away'

The one-stop border post agreement between SA and Mozambique is getting closer to fruition but is still some months off, according to Beyers Theron, SA Revenue Service (Sars) executive. It started on September 18, 2007, in Pretoria when SA signed and ratified the initial agreement with Mozambique, and was followed up in Maputo on June 11 this year when both countries’ ministers of finance signed an annexure to the agreement. “This now has to go back to both parliaments for ratification,” said Theron, “but that’s just a formality.” However, when pushed for a finalisation date, he would only venture to tell FTW that this would be “in the next few months”. In the meantime, Sars will be getting things into place so that the agreement can be handled at the Lebombo/ Ressano Garcia border post on the N4 highway into Mozambique. “We wanted to start from the integration of data on both sides of the border,” said Theron. “We’re very far down the road with this transfer of data. “Also, Mozambique wants to share our manifest acquittal data, because it sees the advantages in this electronic system.” Basically, this system starts with the arrival of the cargo at the border post, where the driver presents a printout of his electronic manifest, and its number is ‘checked in’ by a customs official. The associated goods declarations linked to the manifest number are displayed on the system, and the customs officer is able to determine the overall risk status of the vehicle. Where no risks are present a status notification (CN1) is printed for each goods declaration; and a gate pass (CN2) is handed to the driver permitting him to exit the customs controlled area. “We want to do as much as can be done prior to arrival at the border,” said Theron, “and this sharing of data will enhance that.” This, according to Theron, is all being handled with what is known as the Beit Bridge efficiency system. “It is effectively a cross-border task group,” he added, “which works together to achieve what we need to do to expedite processes through the border.” This will be duplicated at the Beit Bridge border post with Zimbabwe. But this onestop agreement is still at early stages. “A treaty is also in the process of negotiation towards finalisation but not yet signed with Zimbabwe,” Theron said. The advantages of these one-stop border post agreements with these neighbouring countries, he told FTW, were that they reduced border crossing time; shared logistics costs; improved co-operation; and integrated risk and information management. While he recognises these benefits for truckers, Barney Curtis, executive officer of the Federation of East and Southern African Road Transport Associations (Fesarta), told FTW that the only one-stop border post yet working was the one at Chirundu. This is a village and border post in Zimbabwe on the border with Zambia, in Mashonaland West province. “But it has had a lot of hassles,” he said, “although they are trying to sort them out. Trade Mark SA is doing most of the work.” The big problem here, according to Curtis, is that traffic has increased 10- to 15-fold in the last decade. “But the various authorities have done a lot to counteract this increased traffic flow, and hope to get everything sorted out as soon as possible.” CAPTION The Ressano Garcia border post … months away from one-stop agreement. Photo: Mpoverello.com