Following the implementation of the first phase of Reporting of Conveyances and Goods (RCG) last weekend, SA Revenue Service (Sars) has despatched a team to Durban to ensure system stability for the sea modality.
“The impact of this rollout has been minimal at land borders as it was simply a system switchover,” said Beyers Theron, Customs executive overseeing the New Customs Act Programme (NCAP).
“However, at sea and air offices, there is a bigger impact as clients who have never submitted electronic cargo reports before now have to do so,” he said According to Theron, the system rollout has gone smoothly, especially in the land border environment.
“We understand that it may take a bit longer for sea and air cargo reporters to get used to, hence the low percentage of reports sent in the correct format on the new system.
“During this embedding period we will work closely with trade to ensure they get used to submitting all the required reports in the correct format on the new system.”
He has urged all clients who are not yet compliant to make contact with Sars by mailing OSC@sars.gov. za. More information is also available on the Sars website (www.sars.gov.za) – click on the RCG webpage.
The paperless cargo reporting system will bring an end to one of the last remaining paper-based processes in Sars and will provide Customs officials with the capability of tracking goods from beginning to end.
