Welcome to Customs & Excise

SARS’s Customs division plays an integral role in facilitating the movement of goods and people entering or exiting the borders of the Republic.

The Excise division facilitates the levying of duties on certain locally manufactured goods as well as on their imported equivalents.

During the lockdown period, for any escalations pertaining to a specific Customs branch or to make a branch appointment, see
the Customs Branch contact details. If you need to escalate beyond branch offices, please email [email protected].

Updates on Customs branch, ports, borders etc. closures:

10 April 2021 – Maseru Bridge port will reopen at 11:00.
9 April 2021 – Maseru Bridge port has closed this afternoon at 14:00 until tomorrow around 11:00.
9 April 2021 – Qachasnek port is closed until further notice.
8 April 2021 – Jeppes Reef is closed until further notice due to the unavailability of water.
7 April 2021 – Road to Mananga port is closed due to service delivery protest. Trucks are diverted to Jeppes Reef port.
26 March 2021 – Oshoek port has reopened, from 20:30.
26 March 2021 – Kopfontein port reopened at 13:30, today.
26 March 2021 – Oshoek port is still closed. Further update will be provided.
26 March 2021 – Groblersbridge port delayed opening. Operations will resume at 8:00, today.
26 March 2021 – Kopfontein port is closed until further notice. Please use alternative ports e.g. Skilpadshek and Ramatlabama.
25 March 2021 – Kopfontein port will reopen at 18:00, today.
25 March 2021 – Kopfontein port is closed until further notice.
24 March 2021 – Oshoek port is closed until further notice. Please use alternative port, Mahamba.
10 March 2021 – Van Rooyensgate port has been closed until further notice.
9 March 2021 – Groblersbridge port will close on 11 March 2021 from 10:00 to 14:00 (four hours).
23 February 2021 – Groblersbridge port is reopening on 25 February 2021 at 14:00.
8 February 2021 – Groblersbridge port is closed until further notice due damage from flooding.
Please use alternative ports e.g. Skilpadsnek/Pioneer, Ramatlabama, Kopfontein/Tlokweng and Beitbridge.
8 February 2021 – Skilpadshek port will reopen at 15:00 today.
8 February 2021 – Skilpadshek port has been closed until further notice.
7 February 2021 – Groblersbridge port closed at 19:00 and will reopen tomorrow at 06:00.

6 April 2021 – Letter to trade – 13th Deferment Payment for the Period ending March 2021

I would like to thank all our Deferment Account holders who acted in accordance with our request to make the necessary payments by end of business on 31 March 2021.
24 March 2021 – Letter to trade – 13th Deferment payment at the end of the 2020/21 financial year

This letter serves as a reminder to all Customs clients who are deferment account holders to kindly adhere to the 13th deferment payment requirements, which becomes due by end of the financial year, 31 March 2021.

11 February 2021 – Letter to trade – Closure of Groblersbridge Border Post

10 February 2021 – 13th Deferment payment at the end of the 2020/21 financial year
12 January 2021 – AfCFTA agreement implementation stakeholder engagement information
4 January 2021 – The Agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) was published effective from 1 January 2021 as per Notice R1433 in Government Gazette 44049 of 31 December 2020
30 December 2020 – Updated Travellers’ leaflet
16 November 2020 – Directive relating to the release of Clothing, Textile, Footwear and Leather (CTFL) goods
The South African Revenue Service (SARS), in partnership with other government
agencies, is engaged in ongoing efforts to combat the illicit trading in Clothing, Textile,
Footwear and Leather (CTFL) goods, including the undervaluation thereof.
12 November 2020 – Update: Letter to trade, issued on 9 November 2020 – Discontinuation of CN2 at Beitbridge border post

SARS Customs has temporarily discontinued the use of the CN2 gate pass at the Beitbridge border post as of 8 November 2020.
30 September 2020 – Opening of ports of entry for international movement of persons and goods

The National Border Management Coordinating Committee issued a directive on 28 September 2020 to all its Ports of Entry Managers. The directive related to the announcement by the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, on 16 September 2020, that travel into and out of South Africa for business, leisure and other purposes will be allowed with effect from 1 October 2020.

The directive stated that the movement of people through the ports must be subject to the protocols as guided by the relevant regulations.
28 September 2020 – Enforcement of Section 64D – Bonded Goods to be in sealed containers

18 February 2021 – Excise Duty/Levy submission and payment dates for 2021
25 January 2021 – Return and Submission of HTML5 forms via eFiling – External Manual
19 August 2020 – Payment deferment extension periods: Excise Duty

SARS Excise Alcohol and Tobacco Licensees are notified about the latest payment deferment extension periods due to restrictions on the sale of these products under the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions:
- Wine and Spirits
- Beer and Tobacco

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Customs and Excise

Welcome to Customs & Excise

Updates on Customs branch, ports, borders etc. closures:

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