SARS enlists help of over 200 volunteers over festive season

The volunteers “would assist the usual staff compliment during the festive season,” said SARS spokesman Sandile Memela.

Their appointment, he said, was effective immediately and they would be on duty from December 11, 2015, to January 10, 2016. The volunteer arm would be co-ordinated by the Border Control Operational Co-ordinating Committee.

Volunteers would assist with the “measures [which] were put in place to facilitate movement of people, vehicles and cargo and to prevent possible congestion as the increase in traveller movement, coupled with extended hours of operation over this peak period, put resources under severe pressure”.

The increased support base, he said, would capacitate SARS officials with carrying out work in “critical functional areas” that included traffic management, one-stop processing areas, scanners, effective exception handling processes and helping to clear travellers and goods.

He said the volunteers would play an important role in “maintaining the Customs mandate at a high delivery service standard” as the country experienced high border traffic as “thousands of holiday travellers and migrant workers cross the border to spend time with their loved ones”.

Memela said that in previous years, volunteers were appointed as extra support at Beitbridge and Lembobo border posts over the festive season with success, and more volunteers would be sent to other border posts, including Maseru Brige, Ficksburg, Quachas Nek, Kopfontein and Ramabatlabama to “ensure efficient Customs operations”.

Memela cautioned all travellers crossing the country’s borders to ensure that they abided by the laws regarding no firearms, having the correct vehicle registration documentation, valid passports, documentation for declared goods, and permits for any agricultural, animal products and animals, and yellow fever certificates where applicable. 

ANA

File photo: Gallo Images