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NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
QUESTION FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO.: 502
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 19 NOVEMBER 2010
Mr K A Sinclair (COPE-NC) to ask the Minister of Economic Development:
Whether, with reference to his departmentâs 2009-10 Annual Report, any
measures were put in place to combat customs fraud in the 2009-10 financial
year; if not, why not; if so, what (a) measures were put in place, (b) are
the relevant details of these measures, (c) successes were recorded and (d)
challenges were experienced? CW611E
REPLY
As part of the implementation of the Framework for South Africaâs Response
to the International Economic Crisis (the Framework), a range of measures
to combat customs fraud were introduced. This stemmed from the recognition
that illegal imports contributed to job losses.
Details of the measures and the successes are included on page 23 of the
Departmentâs Annual Report.
Some of the challenges involved in combating customs fraud have been
documented in a draft study on customs fraud and illegal imports
commissioned by the Industrial Development Corporation through Nedlacâs
FRIDGE funding. The draft was released on 26 February 2010 and covers a
three-year period from 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2009. The challenges
that the study identified in combating customs fraud include project
fragmentation as a result of restructuring within SARS and changing roles
and responsibilities; and capacity and budget constraints. The study
provides the basis for these challenges to be addressed and further, SARS
has started with the modernisation process to remedy some of the identified
problems.