SARS reveals timetable for SAD roll-out

Groblersbrug scheduled for May/June ALAN PEAT THE SINGLE administration document (SAD) pilot project on the SA-Botswana-Namibia trans-Kalahari highway has cut border post waiting times, and significantly reduced costs, according to Theo Ruiters of SA Revenue Service (SARS) Pretoria head office. This, he added, from the economies of scale, rationalisation and harmonisation of using one document instead of different documents for each customs authority along the route. “What this meant was that goods travelling from Johannesburg to Walvis Bay could, for the first time, travel on one set of documents for the entire trip,” Ruiters told FTW, “instead of being required to process CCA1s, BW500s and NA 500s.” This rationalising of the forms, processes and procedures, meant that times spent at the borders were significantly reduced in terms of down-time processing. “One transporter,” said Ruiters, “reported times being reduced to no more than 20-minutes per border pairing during the project.” And over 250 000 SADs were transacted at the border post of Skilpadshek and the smaller volume Ramatlabama post during the project – adding up to a significant time and cost saving. Said Ruiters: “SARS therefore intends to rationalise paperwork for clients by standardising around the adoption of the SAD as a generic document for all customs transactions. “This will take time but the impact on the traders should be hugely beneficial.” SARS plans to systematically roll out the SAD to the road transport borders with Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland (the BLNS countries) followed by those of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and finally domestically to the sea, air and rail modes. “Currently,” said Ruiters, “the borders affected are Skilpadshek, Ramatlabama and Kopfontein. “The roll-out will go to Groblersbrug during May/June and, in the following months, to Upington, Maseru Bridge, Ficksburg, Caledonspoort, Van Rooyenshek, Qacha’s Nek, and to the Swaziland border posts in the first month of 2006. “As these will require negotiating with the regional authorities as to actual implementation dates, the period is used simply as a guide of SARS’ intentions and for forward planning by the traders/transporters/importers/exporters.” SARS will allow a phase-out period of two months following the announcement of the SAD introduction – and, after this grace period, no CCA1s will be accepted. For clients to keep themselves up to date, Ruiters suggested regular visits to the SARS website at: http://www.sars.gov.za/TKC/index.htm “We will stay close to stakeholder associations,” he told FTW, “and, where necessary, call stakeholder workshops and information sessions.” Customs will also post leaflets and posters at the affected borders.