DURBAN - The South African Post Office (Sapo) announced on Tuesday that it now offers an air mail service to 34 countries and surface mail to 51 countries.
Sapo spokesperson Johan Kruger said international items are delivered within an average of 10 workdays.
However, he said for a quicker service, the Post Office offers the EMS service, which delivers items within 24 hours of arrival in the destination country.
“Customers can easily access the electronic customs declaration form on the Post Office website for quick clearance of parcels. The form is under “tools” on the website www.postoffice.co.za,” said Kruger.
According to Sapo, South Africans are entitled to two tax-free gifts from abroad per year, provided the value of each gift is below R1400.
More information is on the SARS website at https://www.sars.gov.za/customs-and-excise/sending-or-receiving-goods-in-the-post/.
The mail service is now available to the following countries:
AIR MAIL:
- Albania
- Argentina
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Canada
- China
- Czech Rep.
- Denmark
- England
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- India
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Maldives
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Oman
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Serbia
- Singapore
- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Thailand
- United Arab Emirates
- United States of America
Kruger said customers who order items from other countries should include their cell phone number with their address details in order for the Post Office to send them an SMS when the item is ready for collection.
“Customers who send items to other countries must make sure they do not send anything that is not allowed in the mail, which includes any arms, ammunition, explosives, liquids or items that could break and leak,” he said.
Kruger reiterated that no plant or animal material may be sent to other countries.
For more information, please visit the website of the postal administration in the receiving country.
“Mail is transported in bulk, which means that customers should take care when packing items for dispatch abroad,” he added.
ROAD TRANSPORT:
- Botswana
- Kingdom of eSwatini
- Lesotho
- Malawi
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Tanzania
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
SEA TRANSPORT:
- Argentina
- Ascension
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Brazil
- China
- Comoros
- Czech Rep.
- Denmark
- England
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- India
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Lesotho
- Madagascar
- Maldives
- Mauritius
- Netherlands
- Oman
- Poland
- Portugal
- Reunion
- Romania
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- St Helena
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Thailand
- Tristan da Cunha
- United Arab Emirates
- United States of America