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the driver had to be tested again. In finding a solution, the wider industry preferred the antigen test, as these rapid tests are performed in less than 30 minutes at the point of care, thereby enabling immediate results.Despite the fracas, it has not been all doom and gloom. “We have to take the positives and learn from this experience,” comments Maree. “Covid-19 increased our knowledge of the supply chain immensely and initiated many important collaborative efforts in our industry.”In summary, some of these supply chain lessons included: Border crossings, ports and airports should remain open for cargo operations, with added f lexibility. The role of customs administration is critical in this regard. Also, uniformity in cross-border operating procedures is vital. The supply chain cannot stop. Essential services, like cargo transport, must have the ability to provide the full suite of services they offer in order to promote operational efficiency and environmental sustainability. Furthermore, the international and domestic transportation of goods does not work without pilots, drivers, and crews. People are essential. Digitise processes for all cross-border cargo movement, especially when involving other government agencies (OGAs), by ensuring we have a digitalisation policy in the Government. Some manual processes take as long as two to three days to clear. The private sector believes these should be completed within five hours – or at the very least within a day. Furthermore, there should be a drive to remove old, outdated workf lows that bring no value or contribute little towards a compliant, safe, and secure trading environment. Consequently, there needs to be a drive to accelerate the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme. Successful implementation of accredited role-players within the supply chain will result in trade facilitation, whilst at the same time securing the supply chain, by knowing and trusting the traders involved. In effect, customs and business will then collectively share the risk pool in the extended supply chain. E-commerce has grown immensely and is vital in helping households and businesses get essential supplies. It has kept some sectors of the economy going that would otherwise have slowed down dramatically, or even stopped trading altogether. As the vaccine production and distribution efforts are ramped up, sound principles are essential to ensure reliable, safe, and expeditious access to vaccines. We need transparency, as the fiasco with the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) cannot be repeated. The need for consultation between customs, the Government and other regulatory bodies, the private sector, and other stakeholders is crucial. Too often, uncertainty prevailed in the supply chain, primarily through the lack of official communications on regulations at the border posts. Uncoordinated restrictions (both at the border and inland) have disrupted vital operations in many countries at the national and sub-national level. Although Covid-19 was a health issue, we must ensure that ministries from different departments talk to each other. As the veins of the distribution system for critical supplies, the extended supply chain needs the agility to function optimally. As building blocks for trade facilitation, we need certainty and sustainability from the Government to assist us in the recovery process. We need to reverse the downward trend of trading across borders, as typified by the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business rankings. As such, we urgently need to reduce the time and cost to trade.Supply chain decisions cannot be made in isolation, says Maree, as we are part of the African continent. Through various organised business forums, the logistics industry came together after a collective plea from the industry and put an immense collaborative effort in place to combat some frailties.Ultimately, the prospects for 2021 and beyond are uncertain due to uneven vaccine distribution worldwide and the potential emergence of new variants of Covid-19. Nevertheless, the message remains the same. “We must engage in a cooperative project,” concludes Maree. “This approach will allow South Africa to demonstrate what can be achieved when the private and public sectors work together in a genuine spirit of collaboration.”
