Fines for non-legitimate offences a problem

Educating exporters around the necessary
cross border documentation and duties as
well as the issues that can be experienced
during transportation of cargo is extremely
important for efficient operations, says Sandra
de Kock of Destrans.
Established in 2004, Destrans transports
anything from timber to citrus products
between South Africa and Mozambique and
recently ventured into Botswana.
“Because shippers are often unaware of
the time delays experienced at borders there
is an expectation that cargo must be delivered
the next day. It is crucial to educate the client
on the reality of crossing borders so that the
expectation is realistic.”
She says while customs clearance has
improved tremendously in recent years they
still face delays at border posts while “fines”
issued for non-legitimate offences continue to
be a battle.
“Therefore we need to make sure our clients’
knowledge of the cross border documentation
and duties is up to date so that we are in the
right when we reach border posts. We insist on
copies of cross border documentation prior to
loading the vehicle to ensure all is in order.”
De Kock says before their vehicles leave
South Africa they also immediately contact
the clearing agent on the Mozambique side
to ensure they are aware of the load that is
destined for the country so that they start
pushing for the duties from the client. That
pre-empts any further delays.
She says the Mozambique route has
continued to be extremely busy with especially
Tete becoming a hub.
“There are concerns though around the
bridge and how long it is going to last with
all the heavy duty traffic it is experiencing at
present,” she says.
Tete, the capital of the Tete Province in
Mozambique, is situated on the Zambezi
River and is the site of a one-kilometer long
suspension bridge.