SARS pilots new mechanism to nail overloaders

ALAN PEAT A PILOT project has been initiated by the SA Revenue Services (SARS) customs requiring weighbridge certificates to be carried by all vehicles moving export cargoes through selected border posts. According to SARS, this is designed to improve mechanisms for overload control; to ensure closer co-operation with other agencies; and to enhance customs’ control techniques. What it means in practical terms is that customs may require the driver of any commercial vehicle to produce documentary evidence of the weight of the truck and goods being transported. This evidence is in the form of a Weighbridge Clearance Certificate (WCC). It is intended to enable customs to compare the actual weight of goods transported to the weight of goods declared on SARS customs documentation. “As a consequence, from August 1,” said Riaan de Lange of customs and trade specialists PricewaterhouseCoopers, “all commercial vehicles exiting through Lebombo, Groblersbridge and Skilpadshek ports of entry will require a weighbridge certificate. “Any vehicle arriving at the respective ports of entry from that date without a weighbridge certificate will be re-routed to the nearest weighbridge.”