By Kefiloe Kajane
While the rest of the world is easing Covid-19 related restrictions and enabling business to slowly get back on its business, South Africa continues to tighten border restrictions which have seen business, which has seen an unprecedented impact of Basotho.
Speaking to theReporter truck driver Leloko Tamasanesaid he had been waiting at the border gate for hours now as he had to deliver stones to Vereeniging in South Africa’s Gauteng province, just because he was told that he needs an export permit.
Tamasane said this was the first time he had been required to produce such a permit.
“It is surprising because there are many trucks that are entering the country, but those that are going out are not allowed to cross.
“In the morning there were many of us here ready to cross but when the South African officials demanded export permits many truckers returned home. I am still waiting here because my boss said I should wait while he figures something. If these stones do not reach Vereeniging by tomorrow morning it will be a lost money because this is the biggest order since the lockdown,” Tamasane said.
‘Masello Mpeeane, who works as a teacher at a school in South Africa, said she was supposed to be at school in the week but she could not make it because she was barred from crossing despite being in possession of confirmation documents from her employer.
“It has been really frustrating because I have all the documents with me that I was told I should have, but when I got here I was told we needed to be a group so we can be sent to quarantine. My question, is where will I find other people since I am the only person I know at this moment who needs to cross. I feel like both the South African and Lesotho governments did not discuss this matter properly; now our jobs are on the line.”
Meanwhile, the Lesotho Revenue Authority (LRA) says the South African border authorities at Maseru Bridge had taken a unilateral decision to impose strict measures on movement of goods across the South African borders as part of enforcement of lockdown level three regulations.
LRA noted in a statement issued on Thursday that the decision resulted in trucks from Lesotho being barred from crossing the border and thus causing a huge uproar. LRAsaid it then requested a meeting with the South African authorities to discuss the matter and come up with an amicable solution. The reason for imposing the strict measures, according to the South African authorities, was due to abuse of procedures by some Basotho who pose as traders in order to go shopping in South Africa, in violation of the RSA level three restrictions.
“The deliberations between the parties then led to an agreement to relax the requirements since the movement of persons and goods over the borders is still restricted due to the Covid19 pandemic.
“There were conditions that were eased for this period of SA level three period including movement of goods; only registered logistics companies delivering goods in SA or Lesotho may be allowed movement (round-trip) such astruck drivers, fuel tankers, courier companies. The companies should meet conditions like availability of import/exporter code for the importer, which is a South Africa Revenue Service requirement.”
LRA added that companies should also have a certified copy of a trader’s license, certified copy of a tax clearance certificate and copy of the quotation/ order/ manifest for the goods to be collected.
Unregistered companies or traders collecting goods in RSA must produce an importer/exporter registration permit issued by SARS (the physical permit not just the code).
“Business documents corresponding with the import/exporter permit, permit to perform essential services, corresponding with all of the above and invoice/order to proof that they are collecting goods, corresponding with all of the above.
“Essential services providers will also be allowed movement (round trip) provided that they produce business documents, business permit to perform essential services, letter from the employer to perform essential services, proof from the contracting party that they will be rendering services to the contracting party and also if they have goods, they must be declared with SARS,” LRA stated.
It concluded that the institutions (essential services providers) are encouraged to approach the SAHC (South African High Commission) in Maseru if they wish to fetch or collect goods in RSA. They may also be allowed to exchange goods at the Port (in these instances, SARS and SAPS must be involved).
