Sars already planning to equip specialised Border Control Unit

I read with interest the article
"Submit you comments now
on amendments to key draft
bills" (FTW August 22, 2008).
I am particularly interested
in the comments of Riaan de
Lange "almost grant customs a
para-military status" and that of
Andrew Robinson with regards
the customs patrol boat.
Sars published a Strategic
Plan 2007/08-2010 some
time ago. In this plan they
highlighted their focus on
a number of areas but in
particular Compliance and
Customs – Trade Facilitation
and Border Control. As part of
their modernisation agenda
they listed ‘Strengthen Border
Control’ which included acting
as ‘Lead Agency’ and providing
‘Security at Ports of Entry’.
Cabinet has in fact asked Sars
to be the Lead Agency at
borders – which includes
all borders.
As part of that role Customs
anticipated that they would
have to build their capacity
to conduct border and traderelated
law enforcement
activities which include front
line admissibility decision
support, interdiction of illicit
cargo and persons, commercial
fraud detection and
revenue collection.
They have further subdivided
these three activities
into sub-programmes which are
Customs Modernisation, Lead
Agency and 2010 FIFA.
The Lead Agency role is of
particular pertinence to the
comments of De Lange and
Robinson. Sars is chairing the
Border Control Operation and
Co-ordination Committee
(BCOCC). This role includes
the co-ordination of activities
and integrating risk profiling
between agencies at ports of
entry to ensure a streamlined
movement of goods and
people, while maintaining the
integrity of border security.
Customs has already
commenced the necessary
organisational and resource
planning to equip a specialised
Border Control Unit to
strengthen border control and
to provide security at the ports
of entry as anticipated in their
strategic plan.
Last year Customs
published a request to tender
for the training of its Border
Control Unit. At the meeting
it was explained in detail
that Customs intended to
operate a Border Control Unit
in a paramilitary fashion. The
members of this unit were
to receive training to equip
themselves as paramilitary
Customs officials. The CBU was
issued with a brown uniform,
similar to that of the SANDF
and was trained appropriately.
Traditionally, from a
Customs perspective, officials
have been present at land
borders which were actively
managed but sea borders were
not really managed. This is
about to change.
Hester Hopkins, national
manager, Customs@Wylie.