SAPS 'took' incoming parcel...help?

C

clover.4

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Hi

I sent a parcel on 5/12/2012 via USPS Express Mail International from USA to RSA containing broken and used cell phones. On 11/12/2012 I called SAPO to receive the local tracking number and tracked the package through SAPO’s online tracking service. A print screen of the tracking is below.

SAPOtracking_zps439d5a31.png


So the parcel arrived in South Africa on 09/12/2012 and went to customs on the same day. The following day 10/12/2012 the parcel exited customs and was “n transit” to me in Port Elizabeth. I expected the parcel to arrive on 11/12/2012 . The parcel did and has not arrived.

Since then I have done much calling and emailing and found out the following. The parcel went from Johannesburg International Mail Centre to EMS to SAPS. The SAPS do a random search of incoming parcels and because the phones are used and broken they thought they were stolen. So they took the parcel and did not inform me that they had done so. The SAPS branch were the parcel is does not have a phone line nor an email address so I cannot get a hold of them. I know this info is because someone from SAPO walked down to the SAPS branch and enquired (the SAPS branch is in the same building as that SAPO office). The SAPO employee also said that someone at SAPS asked if I had a iCASA certificate to which I replied that I do not and asked how to proceed. I have not heard back from nor been able to contact the SAPO employee again. If I was in Johannesburg I could go to the SAPS office, not that I know where it is and it is more difficult that that because I am in Port Elizabeth.

Any advise on how I could proceed in getting the parcel will be much appreciated!
 
Lay a charge of theft against the station commander
 
clover.4 said:
Hi

I sent a parcel on 5/12/2012 via USPS Express Mail International from USA to RSA containing broken and used cell phones. On 11/12/2012 I called SAPO to receive the local tracking number and tracked the package through SAPO’s online tracking service. A print screen of the tracking is below.

SAPOtracking_zps439d5a31.png


So the parcel arrived in South Africa on 09/12/2012 and went to customs on the same day. The following day 10/12/2012 the parcel exited customs and was “n transit” to me in Port Elizabeth. I expected the parcel to arrive on 11/12/2012 . The parcel did and has not arrived.

Since then I have done much calling and emailing and found out the following. The parcel went from Johannesburg International Mail Centre to EMS to SAPS. The SAPS do a random search of incoming parcels and because the phones are used and broken they thought they were stolen. So they took the parcel and did not inform me that they had done so. The SAPS branch were the parcel is does not have a phone line nor an email address so I cannot get a hold of them. I know this info is because someone from SAPO walked down to the SAPS branch and enquired (the SAPS branch is in the same building as that SAPO office). The SAPO employee also said that someone at SAPS asked if I had a iCASA certificate to which I replied that I do not and asked how to proceed. I have not heard back from nor been able to contact the SAPO employee again. If I was in Johannesburg I could go to the SAPS office, not that I know where it is and it is more difficult that that because I am in Port Elizabeth.

Any advise on how I could proceed in getting the parcel will be much appreciated!
Click to expand...


What station is this. No phone number?
phone 10111 and they will help you with the phone number. Were did you buy the phones?
 
How can SAPS inspect parcels coming into the country? That is the job of the customs office.

I call Bull****. Someone at SAPO has probably informed their buddy at the SAPS office off all those phones in the parcel and therefore it has been "taken".

contact SAPO and ask them for the official documents that were filled out to hand the parcel the SAPS office. My bet there is no such documents. You will probably need to lay a theft charge in order to get any action otherwise they will probably just brush you off.
 
By rights that package should be stuck at customs...

Your problem should likely be that the phones are not ICASA approved, or do not have the ICASA stickers on them and for that reason they might have stopped it.
 
ISP cash cow said:
How can SAPS inspect parcels coming into the country? That is the job of the customs office.

I call Bull****. Someone at SAPO has probably informed their buddy at the SAPS office off all those phones in the parcel and therefore it has been "taken".

contact SAPO and ask them for the official documents that were filled out to hand the parcel the SAPS office. My bet there is no such documents. You will probably need to lay a theft charge in order to get any action otherwise they will probably just brush you off.
Click to expand...
They can check anything comming into or going out of SA.
That is the law. but there is no SAPS office that will not have a phone number.
 
SAPS have got nothing to do with parcel inspection. That is the job of customs.

Someone is taking you for a cat.
 
clover.4 said:
Hi

I sent a parcel on 5/12/2012 via USPS Express Mail International from USA to RSA containing broken and used cell phones. On 11/12/2012 I called SAPO to receive the local tracking number and tracked the package through SAPO’s online tracking service. A print screen of the tracking is below.

SAPOtracking_zps439d5a31.png


So the parcel arrived in South Africa on 09/12/2012 and went to customs on the same day. The following day 10/12/2012 the parcel exited customs and was “n transit” to me in Port Elizabeth. I expected the parcel to arrive on 11/12/2012 . The parcel did and has not arrived.

Since then I have done much calling and emailing and found out the following. The parcel went from Johannesburg International Mail Centre to EMS to SAPS. The SAPS do a random search of incoming parcels and because the phones are used and broken they thought they were stolen. So they took the parcel and did not inform me that they had done so. The SAPS branch were the parcel is does not have a phone line nor an email address so I cannot get a hold of them. I know this info is because someone from SAPO walked down to the SAPS branch and enquired (the SAPS branch is in the same building as that SAPO office). The SAPO employee also said that someone at SAPS asked if I had a iCASA certificate to which I replied that I do not and asked how to proceed. I have not heard back from nor been able to contact the SAPO employee again. If I was in Johannesburg I could go to the SAPS office, not that I know where it is and it is more difficult that that because I am in Port Elizabeth.

Any advise on how I could proceed in getting the parcel will be much appreciated!
Click to expand...


Is that the whole story ?
I smell a rat. Doesn't sound legit.
 
Why are you shipping used and broken phones to South Africa? Are they your personal belongings you have sent ahead?

"all second-hand or used goods, including waste and scrap of whatever nature, shall not be imported into the Republic of
South Africa except by virtue of an import permit issued in terms of section 6 of the said International Trade Administration Act, 2002, and in which such goods are specifically described."

There are some exemptions, among them personal effects, but if you have no permit and the goods don't fall under any of the exemptions, then customs is definitely entitled to seize them.
 
froot said:
By rights that package should be stuck at customs...

Your problem should likely be that the phones are not ICASA approved, or do not have the ICASA stickers on them and for that reason they might have stopped it.
Click to expand...

That is the way it used to be, I am not sure if it changed. If the problem is not resolved within a certain amount of time, the good are tendered for by registered customers, and then (MOSTLY) put on auction.
 
Thanks to everyone who replied. The post received more attention that I had expected and appears to not have fallen on deaf ears. I just got a call from someone at SAPS who provided me with the fax number and the procedure of what to include in the fax. Looks like I have to tell SAPS why I am importing them, prove that the phones are not stolen and show that they do not require an iCASA certificate.

If anyone has more information of iCASA certificates it will be most appreciated!
 
Last edited:
clover.4 said:
Thanks to everyone who replied. The post received more attention that I had expected and appears to not have fallen on deaf ears. I just got a call from someone at SAPS who provided me with the fax number and the procedure of what to include in the fax. Looks like I have to tell SAPS why I am importing them, prove that the phones are not stolen and show that they do not require an iCASA certificate.
I am a student and import used and broken phones (which I repair) and resell to cover my living expenses. My brother became a barman whereas I sell cell phones. It's just who I am.
To prove that they are not stolen I will show my bidorbuy user profile where I sell a number of the phones- clover4 . I can also show the receipt of purchase.
Someone who I sell to locally owns an MTN shop and has advised that iCASA is within the SADAC region and so phones imported from outside of the SADAC region can only have iCASA certificated after being imported.

If anyone is willing to criticise my arguments or help me develop them it will be most appreciated!
Click to expand...

But its still illegal to cell the phones your repairing inside the borders of our country as they are not iCASA certified.
 
cbrunsdonza said:
But its still illegal to cell the phones your repairing inside the borders of our country as they are not iCASA certified.
Click to expand...

According to his post he can only get them iCASA certified once they have been imported... although I doubt he does that.
 
noxibox said:
Why are you shipping used and broken phones to South Africa? Are they your personal belongings you have sent ahead?

"all second-hand or used goods, including waste and scrap of whatever nature, shall not be imported into the Republic of
South Africa except by virtue of an import permit issued in terms of section 6 of the said International Trade Administration Act, 2002, and in which such goods are specifically described."

There are some exemptions, among them personal effects, but if you have no permit and the goods don't fall under any of the exemptions, then customs is definitely entitled to seize them.
Click to expand...

Customs ignore this rule all the time. I see people get second hand clothing in parcels whenever I go to Cape Mail and it's not their own. And if a law is not enforced, it should be done away with. It's unjust to have such laws on the books.

SA has too many useless regulations. Import permits for what-- second hand goods - like antiques or old books? What about rare items? Collectors' things? I can see the rationale in not wanting the country to be a dumping ground for old stuff, but old stuff is cheaper usually (less outflow of capital) and instead we're dumping ground for the cheapest, yet newest, Chinese and Korean junk. (Most companies in SA are Chinese or Korean).

In SA if you do PERSONAL (not for profit or resale) internet shopping for more than 3 separate items per year you must be registered as an importer. No other democracy in the world has such a ridiculous rule. Shame on us for allowing this. The law should be just and should serve us.
 
xrapidx said:
According to his post he can only get them iCASA certified once they have been imported... although I doubt he does that.
Click to expand...

ICASA does not certify every single individual phone though. Surely if the model number is the same, as a local phone, he can import it, as such phones are certified locally already.
 
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