Sars reveals time-frame for roll-out of scanners

ED RICHARDSON
SARS says container cargo scanners should ease the time delay, reduce the security risks and improve the overall supply chain of goods passing through customs. The scanners should be implemented at South African harbours during 2006. Tlale Mosimane of the South African Revenue Service (SARS) told an export seminar in Port Elizabeth that the scanners would provide non-intrusive intervention at customs through utilising container x-ray scanners at sea ports, land and border posts. Tenders for the container scanners were sought from the private sector in 2005. This will see the formation of a public private partnership (PPP) between SARS and the company. The first scanner will only be deployed after the final treasury approval in July 2006. It will be introduced to the Durban port in July 2006. This will be followed by roll-outs in the Cape Town (September 2006) and Port Elizabeth (November 2006) harbours. Other proposed scanning port locations have been cited for Coega, East London, Mossel Bay and Richards Bay. Scanners are also being proposed at inland container terminals in City Deep and Pretcon and at border posts such as Skilpadshek, Kopfontein, Groblers Bridge, Beit Bridge, Oshoek, Lebombo and Nakop. Werner Mack of Sars believes the scanning system will also encourage electronic submissions of the relevant documents and declarations.