MANZINI – Hawkers and interstate transport operators fear the introduction of South Africa’s new online traveller declaration system could worsen congestion at border posts and disrupt cross-border trade between Eswatini and South Africa.
The concerns follow the introduction of the South African Traveller Management System (SATMS), which will become compulsory from Monday. The system requires travellers to pre-declare goods online before entering or leaving South Africa.
While authorities say the move is aimed at modernising border management and curbing illicit activities, some travellers and transport operators fear it could increase delays at already congested border posts, particularly at Ngwenya/Oshoek. Starting June 1, 2026, it will be a compulsory requirement for all travellers entering or leaving South Africa by land, air, rail or sea to declare their personal goods, including their motor vehicles.
Vehicles must be declared as a temporary importation upon entry and as a re-export upon exit. Required information includes passport, travel and contact details, alongside declarations for goods, cash or negotiable instruments worth E25 000 or more.
It is worth noting that all these declarations will be on the South African side of the ports of entry. Hawkers who regularly travel to South Africa to sell goods said many traders were not technologically equipped to complete online declarations before travelling.
One hawker, who asked to be identified as Make Mamba, said traders feared spending long hours at the border while trying to comply with the new procedures. “Whenever we travel, we make sure that we arrive early in Germiston so that we can connect kombis to where we will spend the night. We pray that this will not increase the long queues,” she said.
Mamba said she and fellow traders buy handicrafts in Eswatini and make buhlalu (beads), which they sell in South Africa. She said the value of some goods they transport often exceeds E5 000, meaning they would have to declare them under the new regulations.“We will have to declare if that is the procedure,” she said.
The hawkers’ concerns come amid growing frustrations over delays at Eswatini-South Africa border posts, especially during weekends, month-end periods and holidays. In recent months, several travellers and transport operators have complained about long waiting times at Ngwenya Border Gate, with some motorists reportedly spending hours in queues due to congestion and slow processing systems.
Interstate kombi operators who transport passengers between Eswatini and South Africa also expressed fears that the new system could negatively affect their operations. Operators said delays at the border would inconvenience passengers, reduce the number of trips they make daily and increase operational costs.
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... comply with new rules to avoid delays - ERS
MBABANE – the Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS) has urged travellers and motorists to comply with the new regulations before travelling to South Africa.
ERS Director Communications and Marketing Ntobeko Manana said SARS had announced the enforcement of mandatory declarations for personal goods by travellers entering or leaving South Africa. She said the requirement also applied to motor vehicles used for travelling and would be enforced at all South African ports of entry from June 1.
Manana encouraged travellers to familiarise themselves with the system to avoid unnecessary delays at the border. While the exact number of vehicles crossing daily varies, Ngwenya/Oshoek remains the busiest border post between Eswatini and South Africa.
According to reports from South Africa’s Department of Transport, the country’s border posts with Eswatini process hundreds of commercial trucks and thousands of private vehicles daily.
Collectively, the border posts reportedly handle about 700 000 travellers annually in each direction. Cross-border traders and transport operators now hope authorities from both countries will ensure adequate awareness campaigns and efficient systems are in place before full implementation begins. They said without proper preparation and assistance at border posts, the new declaration process could create further frustration for travellers and businesses that depend on smooth daily movement between Eswatini and South Africa.
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The new South African Traveller Management System regulations will be enforced at the port of entry. (Courtesy pic)