The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has introduced a traveller declaration system at Durban's King Shaka International Airport.

As per the new system, the travellers can use a web-based application to declare any goods they have bought, received, or acquired otherwise before entering or leaving the country.

For now, the system is voluntary, but all travellers will eventually need to complete the declaration. SARS is hopeful the system will be implemented in all airports across the country by 2023.

SARS said the new South African Traveller Management System (SATMS) will help streamline the process of online declaration for everyone involved.

Goods that have been remodelled or repaired abroad, as well as products that have been purchased from another country, need to be declared to SARS upon arrival in South Africa. Anything that is prohibited or restricted under law will also need a declaration.

Upon arrival at the airport, all visitors are required to fill out a Traveller Card (TC-01) if they have any items to declare. The card, used in conjunction with the visitor's passport, will be collected by the customs during the baggage screening process.

Travellers will be given a pass to board their flight once the declaration process has been completed.

For those who choose not to use the online portal, paper forms are available or they can use self-service counters at ports of entry.

SARS has also issued Customs Officers with hand-held devices to assist travellers.

The SATMS' testing phase officially began on Tuesday at King Shaka International Airport in Durban, after being delayed due to concerns from South Africa's tourism industry. The pilot venue was changed from Johannesburg to Durban.

"Our vision is to pilot at King Shaka and as indicated, the whole purpose is for us to learn and also get input in terms of making the system better, making the system serve everybody, all the stakeholders that are impacted by this system," Mandla Gugushe, who was responsible for project management, said.

Even though SARS is hopeful that the SATMS will be set up at other airports by 2023, the timeline for this will be largely dependent on how successful the pilot is at King Shaka International Airport.

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