NGWENYA – The Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS), working with the National Maize Corporation (NMC), has launched an investigation into a suspected syndicate allegedly involved in smuggling tonnes of white maize into the country from South Africa.
The investigation has so far resulted in the interception of two consignments of white maize carried by trucks on two separate occasions at Ngwenya Border Gate.
The vehicles were allegedly transporting consignments of white maize to Eswatini.
The trucks are currently being detained as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the consignments, including their intended destination, ownership and whether the required permits and documentation were obtained.
The NMC has since tightened its monitoring of maize entering the country and increased scrutiny of consignments at the country’s ports of entry amid concerns that illegal imports could undermine the regulated maize supply chain.
The National Agricultural Marketing Board Act, 1985, empowers NAMBoard to require anyone wishing to import or export scheduled agricultural products to register with the Board and obtain a permit.
The Import and Export of Scheduled Products Regulations, 2001, further provide that no person may engage in the importation or exportation of scheduled products unless registered by NAMBoard and issued with a permit.
Maize and maize products are among the controlled agricultural commodities.
Government’s import-control information also lists maize among agricultural products requiring an import permit and warns that illegal importation can result in fines and penalties, as well as seizure of the goods.
The Control of Cereals Act, 1959 is even more specific, providing that no person may import mealies or mealie products except under the authority of, and in compliance with, a permit issued by the minister for Agriculture or an authorised officer.
Called for comment, NAMBoard Head of Legal Trade and Regulation, Bongani Mdluli confirmed the interception of the two vehicles.
However, he asked not to dwell much on the details as one of the matters is now in court.
He stated that as a regulator, they are concerned regarding the issue.
“We are concerned when laws are broken. There is a law that is referred to as the Cereal Control Act, which regulates the importation of maize. It details clearly who is eligible for a permit to import maize,” he said.
Elaborating, he said currently, it is only the National Maize Corporation (NMC) that is permitted to import maize.
He said the interception of the two consignments may be a sign that the problem might be bigger.
“This could probably be a tip of the iceberg because one of the two entities intercepted did not have any permit with us. Secondly, they did not declare their consignments when they arrived at the gate,” he said.
He said NAMBoard is tightening the screws but that such will not be shared publicly.
“The interception has been a result of that. We cannot rule out that there may be a syndicate, we do suspect that. If you look at the two consignments, they were intercepted within a space of two weeks and that should give a sign,” he said.
The illegal importation and smuggling of maize meal from South Africa into Eswatini is not a new phenomenon.
The issue became particularly topical in 2018 when NAMBoard announced a total suspension of maize meal imports into the country with effect from November 1, 2018.
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