Johannesburg: The Border Management Authority (BMA) and the South African Revenue Services (SARS) are set to sign a historic joint action plan with the Kingdom of Eswatini today to address challenges faced in the border environment. BMA Commissioner, Dr. Michael Masiapato, is leading a delegation from the BMA to engage with the Kingdom of Eswatini on a shared vision for border management.

According to South African Government News Agency, the SARS delegation will be led by Beyers Theron, the Director for Customs. Wednesday’s signing of the bilateral Joint Action Plan (JAP) will include commitments to enhance the existing approach to managing the borders. This will involve the harmonisation of policy and procedures as well as the joint organisation of resources and structures to support efficient movements and trade facilitation.

In a joint statement, the BMA and SARS highlighted that South Africa has already signed a similar JAP with the Republic of Mozambique in 2023, which led to significant improvements
in trade facilitation. The collaboration with Eswatini is expected to further bolster regional cooperation and streamline border operations for mutual benefit.