Customs official caught in bribery case is ‘fired’

A CUSTOMS official who tried to solicit a bribe from a passenger at King Shaka International Airport has been sacked.

He had been “released” from his position after a hearing last week, and is expected to face criminal charges.

That’s according to the complainant, Raj Govender, a director in the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Arts and Culture. He had returned from a business trip to the US in September when he was approached by a customs official.

He said the man asked how much money he had taken out of the country.

“He insisted on knowing how much money was left and according to his calculations, this amount would be used to determine how much I would have to pay in customs. He then said I must pay R1 200, or I must give him R700 to avoid going through my bags, which had remained sealed.”

Govender, sensing something fishy, told the official he had no money.

“He told me we could go to an ATM, and the nonchalance displayed made me think he had been doing this regularly.”

At the ATM, Govender saw his wife, who gave him R500 in cash. The official placed the cash in his desk, in full view of his colleagues, and told him he was free to go.

Outraged, he took to social media to vent, catching the attention of an investigating officer at the South African Revenue Service (Sars).

“The investigator went to the airport and saw the CCTV footage and told me the matter would be dealt with,” said Govender, whose ordeal was published in POST that month.

“It’s a very positive outcome. Sars investigated immediately, suspended the official, pending an investigation, and after his hearing, in which his union representative was called to testify, he was released from his position and criminal charges will now be undertaken.”

However, Govender believes much more needs to be done to eliminate corruption.

“I understand that there’s a temptation, as a customs official, to solicit bribes, but that is why we need more stringent criteria and measures for customs officials.

“More vigilant steps need to be taken, and anyone convicted of such corruption needs to be dismissed so we can discourage that behaviour. It needs to be known that corruption will not be tolerated.”

Govender said his family told him that they had witnessed other customs officials escorting about five other travellers to ATMs.

He said one was an elderly woman returning home from India. She had been in tears and believed she was also being solicited for a bribe.

“A customs official escorted her outside, where she asked her family for money, but they had nothing to give her. She then had to ask outsiders.”

Govender added: “I’m doing this because the victims of this crime are traumatised. Corrupt officials are preying on certain types of travellers. You are exhausted after your flight, and you just want to get home. That woman I saw was elderly and overwhelmed. How many others will fall victim to this sort of rampant corruption in which tired, elderly travellers are taken advantage of? How terrible is this for tourism?”

Govender believes that apart from stricter regulations, more needs to be done to inform travellers of how customs works.

“Travellers are allowed to buy goods to the value of R5 000 without paying duties. Anything above that is subjected to a 20% customs duty. Perhaps there should be pamphlets or some other easily available access to information. If we were more informed, knew what to expect and were familiar with what the charges and fees are, it leaves less room for corrupt officials to attempt to scam us.”

Sars declined to comment on the outcome of the hearing.

To report any suspicious behaviour or have reason to believe a customs official is soliciting bribes, you can report the matter to Sars via its website, sars.gov.za, or you can call the corruption hotline at 0800 00 2870.