Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

National Treasury and the South African Revenue Service (SARS) have published amendments to the Export Regulations to allow zero-rating when movable goods are delivered for export from South Africa to terminal operators and port authorities.

The amendment relates to the section of the regulations that sets out the procedures to be followed by a vendor who elects to zero-rate the export of goods to a qualifying purchaser when those goods are initially delivered to a harbour.

“Under the current regulations, one of the procedural requirements for a vendor to supply goods at the zero-rate is that the goods must be delivered to either the port authority, the master of the ship, a container operator or the pilot of an aircraft, or be brought within the control area of the airport authority.

“It has come to government’s attention that, in certain circumstances, such as with the Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT), the wording of this requirement in the Export Regulations appears to be causing practical difficulties in application,” National Treasury said on Tuesday.

RBCT is privately owned and operates the coal terminals within the Richards Bay harbour precinct. It uses the port infrastructure, including berths, channels and other services, provided by the Transnet National Port Authority (TNPA).

“In terms of the strict interpretation of the wording of the Export Regulations, to qualify for zero-rating, the coal must be delivered to the port authority, which would be TNPA and not RBCT. However, since TNPA does not run the terminal, this requirement has become difficult to fulfil,” National Treasury said.

The amendments to the regulations have been published in terms of section 74(1), read with paragraph (d) of the definition of “exported” in section 1(1) of the Value-Added Tax Act, 1991 (Act No. 89 of 1991), together with the Explanatory Memorandum (EM).

The accompanying documents may be accessed on the National Treasury website: www.treasury.gov.za. –SAnews.gov.za

Deputy Minister in The Presidency Kenny Morolong, in partnership with the Free State provincial government and Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality Executive Mayor Gregory Nthatisi, will launch the Milestones of Freedom campaign in the Free State on Thursday.

The campaign seeks to promote social cohesion, inspire national pride and encourage reflection on South Africa’s democratic journey. It highlights the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution; the 50th anniversary of the 1976 youth uprising; the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Women’s March against pass laws; and the 60th anniversary of the forced removals from District Six.

The launch will take place at Waaihoek Wesleyan Church in Bloemfontein, a site of historical significance in South Africa’s journey towards democracy.

The launch will begin with a Freedom Walk at 9am in honour of Charlotte Maxeke, a pioneering South African religious leader and social and political activist, who is widely recognised as a prominent figure in the struggle for freedom and equality.

Participants will include students from local tertiary institutions and representatives of civil society organisations.

The walk will be followed by a visit to the Waaihoek Wesleyan Church Museum, offering participants an opportunity to reflect on South Africa’s journey from apartheid to democracy.

Waaihoek Wesleyan Church is an important site in the history of South Africa’s liberation struggle.

Morolong, together with provincial and local leaders, will preside over the Lighting of the Torch of Freedom ceremony at Waaihoek Wesleyan Church.

The ceremony will honour the women who participated in the historic 1956 anti-pass campaign, which culminated in the Women’s March to the Union Buildings on 9 August 1956.

“Since the national launch in June 2026, government commenced the rollout of the campaign to provinces on 26 July. Thus far, the campaign has been launched in five provinces, with the Free State, Limpopo and North West remaining.

“Government calls on South Africans to reflect on the journey of freedom and appreciate the sacrifices made in attaining the democracy we enjoy today by celebrating the key milestones highlighted by this campaign,” the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) said. –SAnews.gov.za

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has successfully intercepted more than 333kg of cocaine at the OR Tambo International Airport.

The cocaine – worth an estimated street value of some R167 million – was intercepted during a targeted enforcement operation conducted on a flight arriving from Sao Paulo, Brazil.

“The operation was executed simultaneously across three critical points of entry processing… aircraft baggage offloading, passenger arrivals baggage screening, and cargo inspections. The coordinated intervention forms part of SARS’ intensified efforts to combat the illicit movement of narcotics and other prohibited goods through South Africa’s ports of entry. 

“During baggage screening at the international arrivals hall, Customs officials identified two pieces of luggage containing cocaine. A total of 75 bricks, weighing 83.10kg, were found inside the suitcases. The matter was immediately referred to the South African Police Service for further investigation and forensic processing, in line with their mandate,” SARS said in a statement.

Separately, SARS’ narcotics detecting dog reacted positively to cargo offloaded from the same flight, which was found to have at least 250kg of cocaine.

SARS Commissioner, Dr Johnstone Makhubu, said the interception of cocaine from both passenger baggage and unmanifested cargo on the same flight “reflects the value of integrated enforcement”.

“This operation demonstrates that SARS is steadily strengthening its capability to detect and disrupt sophisticated smuggling syndicates. The … success is the result of intelligence-led operations, the effective use of data and risk analysis, and the unwavering vigilance and diligence of our Customs officers, who work around the clock to protect South Africa’s borders and economy.

“Every successful seizure helps protect communities from the devastating impact of drug trafficking and reinforces the integrity of legitimate trade. I wish to thank all law enforcement agencies for working together to disrupt drug trafficking.

“I also extend our appreciation to our international partners for their cooperation in combating transnational organised crime and safeguard South Africa’s borders,” Makhubu said. – SAnews.gov.za

President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa remains a respected member of the African community of nations and a principled Pan-African actor, despite concerns raised by some African countries concerning migration-related matters.

The President was responding to questions in Parliament on Tuesday on South Africa’s standing on the continent and the measures government is taking to restore confidence in the country as a Pan-African voice.

President Ramaphosa said government has firmly rejected xenophobia, Afrophobia, vigilantism and all forms of discrimination against people from other countries.

“South Africa remains a respected member of the African Community of Nations and a principled Pan-African actor. We continue to participate actively in continental as well as regional bodies and processes, while some African countries have raised concerns about the anti-migrant actions by some groups in our country. As a government, we have firmly and publicly rejected xenophobia, Afrophobia, vigilantism, and all forms of discrimination against people from other countries,” he said.

South Africa has reinforced its commitment to Pan-Africanism through cooperation with the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the African Union (AU) and partner States on migration governance, regional integration and burden sharing.

The President said government has also engaged directly with a number of Heads of State and Government to explain South Africa’s position and approach to migration.

He highlighted the 46th Ordinary SADC Summit, which South Africa hosted in eThekwini earlier this month, saying government had proactively placed migration on the agenda, rather than waiting for regional leaders to raise concerns.

“Last week, at the 46th Ordinary SADC summit that we hosted in eThekwini, we took the opportunity to brief the leaders of the region on the situation in the country, and this we did without being asked either to account or to explain. We took it upon ourselves to put the matter on the agenda, and I also addressed it in my inputs and we explained precisely what the situation had been in our country,” President Ramaphosa said.

He said the approach had allowed South Africa to explain the measures it was taking, while also encouraging the region to work collectively on the broader migration challenge.

“In its communiqué, the summit called for a coordinated and multidimensional dialogue at the regional level to address the underlying drivers of migration and develop comprehensive, sustainable, and effective responses,” he said.

Comprehensive approach to migration

President Ramaphosa said government is pursuing a comprehensive approach to migration management based on the rule of law, respect for human dignity and stronger State institutions.

He said this includes reforming and modernising the country’s migration governance framework through stronger border management, action against corruption within the immigration system, improved legal migration pathways and implementation of the White Paper on Citizenship, Migration and Refugee Protection.

“Through our comprehensive approach to managing migration, we have emphasised that migration challenges must be addressed through the rule of law, respect for human dignity, and the strengthening of State institutions, not through unlawful actions targeting foreign nationals.

“An important part of this approach is the reform and modernisation of South Africa’s migration governance framework, and this includes strengthening border management, addressing corruption within the immigration system, improving legal migration pathways, and implementing the white paper on citizenship, migration, and refugee protection,” he said.

The President said the measures were intended to strengthen public confidence in the state’s ability to manage migration while ensuring that South Africa continued to uphold its constitutional and international obligations.

He also rejected suggestions that South Africa was becoming isolated diplomatically as a result of tensions over migration and attacks against foreign nationals.

President Ramaphosa said International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola had travelled to a number of countries as his Special Envoy, meeting Heads of State and Government to discuss the situation.

He acknowledged that coordinating meetings with foreign leaders could sometimes be difficult, but said the engagements had generally been positive.

“He was well received in Ghana… [and] other countries. We’ve had discussions even at my level with various Heads of States, who have articulated their deep understanding for what has been happening here, and they have wished as well, and they have said that they are willing and able support South Africa as it deals with this difficult problem, and they have also characterised it as a complex problem, meaning that there is deep understanding of the challenges we are going through,” he said.

President Ramaphosa said the diplomatic engagements have demonstrated that South Africa is not being isolated on the continent.

“While other people might have thought that we are being snubbed and we are being isolated, actually the contrary has been the case.

“As we have sat down to explain precisely the challenges that we are going through, we have found, to our pleasant appreciation, that there is understanding and there is support, and a number of countries are saying they are willing to work with us to have this problem resolved,” he said.

The President said South Africa would continue to advocate for collective African solutions to migration, while engaging diplomatically with countries that had concerns about developments in the country. – SAnews.gov.za

President Cyril Ramaphosa says police and other security agencies are processing reports and evidence relating to violence against foreign nationals, with arrests and prosecutions expected against those found to have violated the law.

The President was responding to a supplementary question from Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema in Parliament on Tuesday, following concerns over violence against African foreign nationals in South Africa.

Malema alleged that perpetrators had in some instances committed violence in the presence of police officers without being arrested, creating the impression that the attacks were state-sanctioned.

He questioned why those responsible had not been arrested and prosecuted.

In his response, the President said the matter is being attended to.

“Thank you for that question, Honourable Malema. The issue of the instigators of these violent actions that have been taken against people from other countries is a matter that is being processed. The police have informed us, and all security apparatus have informed us that they are following up on it. They are getting all the reports and evidence,” he said.

He added that arrests have already been made.

“A number of other people have been arrested, and of course, those others who were seen to be leading these processes are also people who are of interest, of direct interest to the police, and that is a process that is going to be followed up,” President Ramaphosa said.

This as government remains concerned about the matter.

“We are obviously concerned about the actions that have been taken against any Africans in our country, and we have made it clear that those who violate the law, those who transgress various precepts of our laws, need to be dealt with,” he said.

Law-enforcement agencies would pursue cases involving violence, including incidents that had resulted in injury or death.

“In a number of cases, where, for instance, incidents of violence have even resulted in injury or death, we are going to be following all that up and ensuring indeed that those who have perpetrated those acts are followed up on.”

The President’s response came amid wider parliamentary questions on the impact of anti-migrant mobilisation on South Africa’s relations with other African countries.

Government has repeatedly rejected xenophobia and Afrophobia and has maintained that migration challenges must be addressed within the framework of the law.

President Ramaphosa said South Africa’s approach was based on strengthening the state’s capacity to manage migration rather than allowing unlawful actions against foreign nationals.

He pointed to reforms aimed at strengthening border management, tackling corruption within the immigration system, improving legal migration pathways and implementing the White Paper on Citizenship, Migration and Refugee Protection.

The President also said South Africa has been engaging with other African countries on migration through the African Union (AU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), arguing that the challenge could not be addressed through unilateral action or by targeting migrants.

At the recent 46th Ordinary SADC Summit hosted by South Africa in eThekwini, government placed migration on the agenda and briefed regional leaders on developments in the country.

President Ramaphosa said South Africa had done so without being prompted by other leaders.

The SADC Summit subsequently called for a coordinated and multidimensional regional dialogue to address the underlying drivers of migration and develop comprehensive, sustainable and effective responses.

READ | SADC seeks to turn borders into gateways for trade, travel and regional integration

President Ramaphosa said this approach was necessary to ensure that migration was managed through lawful and humane means, while addressing the circumstances that cause people to leave their countries. – SAnews.gov.za