THERE were long delays in clearance of commercial cargo at the Beitbridge Border Post yesterday, as South African Revenue Services (SARS) customs officials continued their strike pressing for a 12 percent pay rise.
The employer is offering 1,69 percent, and that gap has
resulted in a crippling stalemate. SARS offices and border posts are now manned
by managers who don’t fall under the collective bargaining category.
The strike has led to slow movement of commercial cargo
entering or leaving South Africa.
The long queues of trucks are also affecting road works in
Beitbridge.
At its peak, the Beitbridge Border Post clears between 900
and 1 200 trucks a day. But now long and slow-moving queues of commercial
trucks have become common on the main highways leading to Bulawayo and Harare
in Zimbabwe and Musina in South Africa.
Beitbridge Border Post links South Africa not just to
Zimbabwe but also to all points north, including other Sadc countries Malawi,
Zambia, DRC, Tanzania, and Angola.
In a statement last week, SARS said it had come up with
contingency plans to ensure continued services to its client pending a
resolution of the salaries dispute.
“SARS apologises for any inconvenience caused due to the
industrial action taking place across SARS, we are experiencing delays in
servicing our taxpayers.
“While some branches may be closed to the public, they will
continue to honour virtual appointments, as booked. In the event that a virtual
booking is not honoured, please note that the branch will follow up to do the
necessary service recovery. Please continue to also make use of our digital
services during this time.”
South Africa’s Home Affairs Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi
last Thursday said he was hopeful SARS and its employees would find common
ground in the interest of facilitating trade.
The minister visited Beitbridge to unveil the first batch
of 200 border guards, who have been deployed to strengthen operations at the
ports with Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
These fall under the newly constituted Border Management
Authority, which is operating under the Home Affairs Ministry pending its
independence in April next year. Herald
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