13 December 2007
The South African Government is taking important measures to manage possible
congestion at the country's busiest land border posts over the festive
season.
These steps will be implemented through inter-governmental co-operation
between a number of National, Provincial and Local Government Departments and
State Agencies in the various provinces and coordinated through the Border
Control Operational Co-ordinating Committee (BCOCC).
The BCOCC is an affiliate structure of the Justice Crime Prevention and
Security Cluster and was mandated in 2005 to co-ordinate the management of the
South African border environment. The challenges for border control and
security increase over the festive season due to the rise in cross border trade
and migration of people to and from neighbouring states.
The BCOCC is also guided by strategic national objectives to facilitate
trade, and promote tourism as important economic drivers in the region.
The following Government Institutions are involved in the Border Control and
Security Framework: the national departments of Home Affairs, Intelligence,
Transport, Public Works, Agriculture, Health and Defence, as well as the South
African Police Service (SAPS) and the South African Revenue Service (SARS).
Officials from these institutions will convene daily planning sessions at a
National Joint Operations Centre to monitor the trends in the movement of goods
and people and, where necessary, employ contingency plans for the busiest land
border posts in the country.
Information services available to travellers and traders
A call centre has been established to provide a real time information
service to travellers and traders.
For accurate, timely information on border post operations:
* Contact the Call Centre on 0860 26 73 37 or 0860 BORDER
* SMS facility is available at 083 709 9444. Text the word "border" followed by
a space and then the name of the border gate you wish to receive information
on. Example: SMS "border" [SPACE] "Lebombo".
* Go to the website http://www.rsaborders.co.za
Information to assist transit across the South African borders included on
the website:
* operating hours of the port of entry
* location and contact details for ports of entry
* port of entry classification in terms of commercial or non-commercial
port
* current queuing/waiting time (to be updated at specified intervals)
* travel documents required (i.e. passports, vehicle registration papers,
etc.)
* cost of transit through ports to neighbouring countries (e.g. third party
insurances etc.)
* passport and visa requirements
The webpage and information database will be updated regularly to ensure
that the details provided to the public reflect the current operating scenario
at the ports of entry accurately. The call centre will contact the major ports
of entry at specified intervals in order to establish current queuing/waiting
periods.
Extended hours of operation
The busiest border posts will employ additional personnel and will have
extended hours of operation. Information on hours of operation will be
available on the website, the call centre and through the SMS service.
* Beit Bridge - 24 hours
* Lebombo - 24 hours
* Maseru Bridge - 24 hours
* Kopfontein - 06:00 to 22:00 (06:00 to 24:00 daily effective from 14 December
2007).
* Oshoek - 07:00 to 22:00 (07:00 to 24:00 only on 21, 22, 23 & 24 December
2007)
* Ramatlabama - 06:00 to 20:00 (06:00 to 22:00 daily effective from 14 December
2007)
* Skilpadshek - 06.00 â 22 (06:00 to 24.00 daily effective from 14 December
2008).
These measures will be maintained between 1 December 2007 and 20 January
2007.
Officials from the Department of Home Affairs and SARS will conduct their
respective immigration and customs functions during these times. SAPS has
already increased its force levels at the various border posts to ensure
orderly cross-border movement. A policy of zero tolerance will be applied by
the SAPS and priority given to detecting organised crime, stolen vehicles,
illegal firearms and drugs.
Issued by: South African Revenue Service
13 December 2007
Source: South African Revenue Service (http://www.sars.gov.za)
