Newsflash 765 of 02 December 2009

Newsflash 765 of 02 December 2009

Border Crossing Over December 2009 And Janu= ary 2010

Dear MCLI Readers

&n= bsp;

PLEASE TAKE TIME TO READ THIS IMPORTANT NEWSF= LASH IF YOU ARE CROSSING THE BORDER AT LEBOMBO/RESSANO GARCIA DURING THE DECEMBER/JANUARY HOLIDAY PERIOD AS IT CONTAINS ESSENTIAL INFORMATION WHICH WILL MAKE YOUR BORDER CROSSING EASIER

The Border Planning Meeting of the many government departments and stakeholde= rs from both South Africa and Mozambique, headed by Lebombo BCOCC Chairperson and = Port Coordinator, Mr Henson M= songweni, has finalised their planning for the peak vol= umes of traffic crossing the border during the December period. Governme= nt departments are set to deploy additional staff and erect additional tempo= rary infrastructure to accommodate the expected increase in particularly passe= nger traffic during this period. Experienced gained during the massive influx of traffic during previous peak periods has played a significant r= ole in this year’s planning.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to the volumes and limitations of infrastructure and human resources, despite additional staff being deployed, = queues and congestion are still expe= cted, so travellers are requested to be patient and= to prepare for this eventuality.<= /p>

The following press release has been received from Mr Henso= n Msongweni and applies to the operation of the border posts of Mozambique = and Swaziland over the festive period:

Joint Media Statement: Border Control Measures f= or the

Festive Period – Mpumalanga Provin= ce.<= /o:p>

December 2009.<= /p>

General.

The Sou= th African Government’s Border Control Operational Coordinating Commit= tee (BCOCC) at the Mpumalanga Province today released details of important measures put in place to prevent possible congestion at the Province’s busiest ports of entry over December 2009 / January 2010 festive season period. These measures will culminate in the coordination of operations at the National Border Management Coordination Centre (NBMCC), already operational and deal with day to day port of entry operations. Crime prevention measures will be intensified in a coordinated manner at all the key ports of entry by Government agencies and instituti= ons involved in crime prevention. Human capacity in all the Provincial ports = of entries will increase and officials from these institutions will convene daily joint sessions, closely monitoring the execution of the festive pla= ns, monitor the trends in the movement of goods and people and, if necessary, employ contingency plans at the busiest ports of entry in the Province.&n= bsp; It must be noted that the busiest ports of entry during the festive season are our land ports mostly Lebombo Border Post= (Mozambique) and Osh= oek Border Post (Swazi= land).

About the BCOCC.

The BCO= CC is an affiliated structure of the Justice Crime Prevention and Security Cluster= and was mandated in 2005 to strategically manage the South African Ports of E= ntry environment in a coordinated manner. The Lead Government Agency and Chair= of the BCOCC is the South African Revenue Services (SARS).=

The BCO= CC mandate as a coordinating structure extends to all sea; land and air port= s of entry and exit. The mandate includes and is not limited to the following:=

1. &nbs= p; Develop and implement National Integrated Border Management Strategy (NIBMS).

2. &nbs= p; Planning and acting within one framework, whilst retaining agency-specific accountabilities.

3. &nbs= p; Create a workable balance between security, trade, tourism and economic developmen= t in the RSA and the SADC region.

4. &nbs= p; Harmonise and implement legislation = and policy, thereby improving legal flow of persons and goods.

5. &nbs= p; Advise policy makers on ma= tters relating to Border Management<= span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>.<= /p>

6. &nbs= p; Coordinate law enforcement operations at Ports of Entry in order to combat illegal activities whilst facilitating legal flow of goods and travellers.

The fol= lowing Government Institutions are involved in the Border Control and Security Framework: the Departments of Home Affairs (DHA), National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Department of Transport (DOT), Cross Border Road Transport Agency (CBRTA), Department of Public Works (DPW), Department of Agricultu= re (DOA), Port Health (DOH), South African National Defense Force, South Afr= ican Police Service (SAPS) and the South African Revenue Service (SARS). =

In preparation for the increase in traffic volumes during the Festive period (December 2009 to January 2010) various Government Departments forming pa= rt of the Border Control Operational Coordinating Committee (BCOCC) and neighbouring countries (Swaziland and Mozambique) h= ave agreed to implement measures which will ensure that there is quick proces= sing of travellers at various Ports of Entry in Mpumalanga Province.

1. Operational Hours.

The following Mpumalanga Ports of Entry will extend operational hours as per table below:

Ports of Entry- Extended Hours

Ports= of Entry	Normal Operational Hours	Exten= ded Operations (Festive Period)
Perio= d	Openi= ng Time	Closi= ng Time
*Lebombo (RSA/Mozambiqu= e)	06h00 to 00h00 (Non-commercial Hours) 06h00 to 22h00 (Commercial hours)=	04 December 2009 to 18 January 2010	24 hour operation	24hrs
Normal hours	06h00	22h00
*Oshoek (RSA/ Swaziland)	07h00 to 22h00	10 December 2009 to 16 December 2009 16 December 2009 to 31^st December 2009 <= o:p>	06H00 24 hour operation	00h00 24hrs
= Mananga (RSA/ Swaziland)	07h00 to 18h00	14 December 2009 to 5 January 2010	07h00	20h00
= Jeppes Reef (RSA/ Swaziland<= /st1:country-region>)	07h00 to 20h00	Normal Hours	Normal Hours	20h00
= Mahamba (RSA/ Swaziland)	07h00 to 22h00	23 December 2009 to 24 December 2009	07:00	00h00

<= font size=3D2 face=3DTahoma>

2. C= learance of Travellers.

Lebombo Port of Entry (POE) will clear people travelling in buses, taxis and Bakkies (only if they have m= ore than 6 passengers) at the Komatipoort Commerc= ial Facility (7km before the main Port of Entry) from the 11 December to 24 December 2009.

Other Ports of Entry will clear people at their main and outside buildings where applicable.

3.      <= st1:PlaceType w:st=3D"on">Port of Entry Requirement (RSA side).

·      No individual is allowed to import or export firearm(= s) without a permit. Police Officials are no longer permitted to store firearms at the Port of Entry – South African Police Services (SAPS= ).

·      All South African registered vehicles to be taken to Mozambique or Swaziland should have the following documentation: (1) Vehicle Registration Documents, (2) if the vehicle is financed by the ban= k we need a letter from the financial institution/bank au= thorising the driver to take the vehicle out of the country, (3), if the vehicle is owned by the company we need an authorisation letter in company letterhead. This should include the vehicle insurance – SAPS.

·      Emergency passports will not be issued at the Port du= ring the Festive period. Passports are issued at Home Affairs offices at various towns/cities. No person including children will be allowed through the POE without a valid passport (at least one page of the passpo= rt should be unused) – Department of Home Affairs (DHA).=

·      Foreigners entering RSA should have a passport valid = for 30 days after the expiry of the visit period – DHA.

·      Public should ensure that they declare all goods in t= heir possession with all necessary documentation such as invoices or proof of purchase. All imported second-hand clothing entering the country ne= eds to be accompanied by a permit from DTI (Department of Trade & Industr= y) – SARS Customs.

·      All valuable items such as motorbikes, cameras and laptops are to be declared at Customs – SARS Customs.

·      No agricultural and animal products including live animals even for personal consumption are allowed to enter the country (R= SA) without a permit. Such goods will be detained if permits are not available – Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF).

·      All corpses (dead bodies) need a grant permit to enter the country – Mpumalanga Department of Health & Social Services – (MDOH & SS)

·      Travellers going abroad or coming into the country are only all= owed to bring medicine which will last for 30 days if they are in possession of the doctor prescription – MDOH & SS.
·      People travelling to and from yellow fever countries (e.g. Angola, Congo, Nigeria, etc) must be in po= ssession of a yellow fever certificate – MDOH & SS.

·      All RSA permit holders (work or study) are no longer allowed to claim a vat refund when they export goods –. They = can only claim on expiry of their permit within 90 days period before their f= inal departure from RSA – VAT Refund Administrators (VRA).

4.      Port of Entry Requirement (Mozambique side).

·      Revenue or fees to be paid at Re= ssano-Garcia POE (Mozambique side) when entering.

ü&nb= sp;      Immigration fees – RSA passport holders pay R17,00; Non-South African and Non-Mozambican passport holders without VISA pay R172.00 for VISA.

ü&nb= sp;      Customs Fees – Non-Mozambicans pay R10.00 road tax for the vehicle. G= oods entering Mozambiqu= e are liable to duties/ taxes depending on the quantity and quality thereof= .

ü&nb= sp;      Vehicle Insurance – Motorbike R80.00, Vehicle R150.00, Vehicle pulling a trailer or caravan R230.00, Trucks or any vehicle carrying commercial goo= ds R200.00 and trucks or any vehicle pulling a trailer carrying commercial g= oods R300.

ü&nb= sp;      Currency – Rands and Meticals are accepted for payment of the above serv= ices.

5.      Port of Entry Requirement (Swaziland side).

= =

·     &nbs= p;   Swaziland Customs charges a= road tax on all non-Swaziland registered vehicles entering Swaziland as follows: Vehicles (non-commercial) R50, Trucks and other commercial vehicles R80.<= o:p>

·     &nbs= p;   Currency – Only Rands (only notes & silver coins) or Emalangeni= are accepted for payment at Swaziland Ports of Entry.

It should further be noted that Mpumalanga Ports of Entries including neighbouring countries do not have credit card faci= lities (card swiping machine).

This communication does not address all processes and requirements at the Port= s of Entry and it is advisable that before a person begins his/her journey he/= she should consults the relevant department for detailed information.

For media queri= es please Contact the following Port Coordinators:<= /p>
           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;

Name = of Border Post

Contact Person

Lebombo Border Post & Mpumalanga Province

Mr. Henson Msongweni

083 555 3357 = - 013 7937626

nlima@sars.gov.za or hmsongweni@sars.gov.za =

Oshoek= & Waverley Border   Post<= /o:p>

Mr. Themba Mndebele<= /o:p>

082 645 3613<= o:p>

Mahamba & Bothashoop Borde= r Post

Mr. Koot Malebe

079 799 2950<= o:p>

Jeppes= Reef & Josefsdal B= order Post

Mr. David Mabuza

079 515 7715<= o:p>

Mananga Border Post

Ms. Barbara Stassen <= /p>
079 506 8854<= o:p>

= Kruger Mpumalanga International A= irport

Ms. Elda Ferr= eira

083 555 4609<= o:p>

Neston= & Emahlathini Bord= er Post

Ms Zandile Ms= ibi

0828208991

With Kind Regards

Henson Msongweni

BCOCC – Mpumalanga Province

083 555 3357

MCLI reque= sts that all stakeholders note that:

Tr= avellers to Mozambique are required by law to carry a reflective vest and two emergency triangles.

<= span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>No animals or pets whatsoever are permitted to be carried across the border.

<= span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>Transport operators fr= om South Africa who are moving across the border are required to have permits issued= by the Cross-Border Road Transport Agency (C-BRTA). For enquiries= in this regard, call the C-BRTA on +27 (0) 12 362 1864 +27 (0) 12 362 1864

Travellers crossing the border from Mozambique<= /st1:country-region> to South Afri= ca in buses, taxis and bakkies (only if the= y have more than 6 passengers) will be directed to KM4 (4 kilometers from t= he Ressano Garcia port of entry) from the 2^nd of January to the 14^th of January.

PLEASE WORK WITH MCLI AND ITS STAKEHOLDERS TO STAMP OUT

CORRUPTION AT OUR BORDER POST!

<= span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>There are many individ= uals working on both sides of the border who are passing themselves off as government officials and who offer to complete documentation on beha= lf of travellers for a fee. These individ= uals are fraudsters and should be avoided categorically. Pl= ease also note that no fees are payable on either side of the border for = the completion of documents. The only fees charged are those outli= ned in the BCOCC Press Release above. If you are unsure please ask for official identification and an official government receipt.

<= span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>Please also do not use= the runners at the border post who offer to speed your thoroughfare and = jump the immigration queues for a fee. This makes you party to fraud a= nd corruption and undermines the efforts of the relevant government departments to stamp out corruption and provide an effective service= .

<= span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>Important for drivers = at all times to carry their driver’s licence, proof of insurance and reimportation doc= uments for bringing their vehicles back into SA. <= /li>
<= span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>It is advisable to obt= ain an international driver’s licence for travel across the border, whether to Mozambique or to South A= frica. These are available from the AA and most travel agents.

<= span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>Third party insurance = for South African vehicles crossing the border is compulsory and can be obtained from various outlets at the border and at Komatipoort, agents at the Lebombo Border Dry Port, as well as the Sasol garage on the N4 near the = Komatipoort turn off. These service providers will also assist with necess= ary documentation for your trip across the border. In the event of an accident involving a third party the first line of call is the insurance comp= any.

<= span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>Night-time travellers should be aware of pedestrians and = stray animals on the road.

<= span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>Officials at both Port= s of Entry, i.e. Lebombo and Ressano Garcia, have requested that travellers d= o not use their parking spot at the border post as a point to take a refreshment break, as this contributes to the congestion of the facility. It is recommended that you stop for refreshment brea= ks before or after the Port of Entry.
<= span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>Alternatively, tourist= s may want to travel to Mozambique via Swaziland through the Jeppes Reef Border post (Fro= m the N4 just after Malelane) or the Mananga Border post (from the N4 just after Komatipoort), crossing into Mozambique through the= Lomahasha Border Post.

PLEASE ALS= O NOTE THE FOLLOWING IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Should travellers encounter difficulties with traffic poli= ce or other authorities en route to their destinations, particularly if these officers are attempting to illicit bribes or are threatening, you are adv= ised to do the following:

Be as cooperative as possible

Insist on a written or officially printed fine
Don’t pay the fine to the police officer, but take it to the nearest police station for payment and get an official receipt; stamped if possible= .

If the police/traffic officers request a bribe, ensure that you take the name of the officer, and ensure that the location and time of the ro= ad block is noted. Without this information there can be no recourse. <= o:p>

Do not pay the bribe!

If in Mozambique= , report this to the SA High Commission (number below) or pass it on to MCLI to take up. If police insist on escorting you to the near= est police station, or if you are unsure of the legitimacy of the charge, (the escort may often not be the closest police station) call the SA High Commission in Maputo on +258 21 49 0059/3030 or their after hou= rs duty officer on +258 84 3= 04 4600 +258 84 304 4600 for advice.

If in South Afri= ca, the same principles apply and incidents should be reported to the Mpumalanga Traffic Department on their hotline 0800 202775 0800 202775

MCLI WISHES ALL OUR STAKEHOLDERS A VERY HAPPY, BLESSED AND

SAFE FESTIVE SEASON.=

REMEMBER, LIGHTS ON SAVES LIVES=

Best Regards<= /b>

Brenda Horne-Ferre= ira

CEO

MAPUTO CORRIDOR LOGISTICS INITIATIVE=

= Incorporated under sect 21- 2004/007466/08

mailto:brenda.horne@mcl= i.co.za

Tel: +27 (0)13 755 6025 =

Fax: +27 (0)13 752 5453 =

http://www.mcli.co.za

= Working together to make the Maputo Corridor First choice for the regions importers & exporters alike.

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