SA - Walvis corridor pilots standardised customs system

Alan Peat SA CUSTOMS is about to launch a pilot scheme for SA-Walvis Bay traffic, leading the way towards the Southern African Development Community (SADC) becoming a Òfree trade area". This is a move which should justify the Trans-Kalahari Highway re-assuming its original title of the Trans-Kalahari Express, according to Edward Little, executive director of the SA Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF) - something it has failed to achieve up to now, due to lengthy border post delays along the route. "Our plan is piloting one of the intentions of the SADC protocol," said Theo Ruiters, of customsÕ Pretoria head office, "introducing standardised customs documentation and procedures at all the border posts." This would unify the practices of the SA, Botswana and Namibian customs posts along this SA-Namibia corridor. "Effectively," Little added, "it will mean that a vehicle/container would be sealed by customs in SA or Namibia - common documentation would be prepared for each set of customs - and the vehicle/container would not be opened at any border posts along the route. "It will considerably improve the movement along the corridor, and is a forerunner to introducing this practice throughout the SADC." Indeed it is, according to Ruiters. "We will launch this pilot scheme at the start of April, test-drive it for three months, then evaluate the results," he said. "If it proves itself, we will then run it out to other medium risk corridors throughout the region with the SA-Mozambique corridor the next in line." SA customs is also proposing that "one-stop" border posts should be created along the Namibian corridor which, if successfully accepted, should do their own bit to speed up customs procedures on the route. It would again be a possible forerunner to future SADC border post practice. According to Ruiters, these initial moves towards the free trade area are making that idea less far-fetched than it has appeared to many. These pilot schemes, are firming up the resolve amongst the customs authorities in the region to successfully implement the SADC protocol. Said Ruiters: "One of the advantages is that everybody is now fully committed, and the success of these pilot schemes can only further that commitment."