What the new list tells you—and what it does not

SARS published a notice on 2 November 2026 about its Customs Weekly List of Unentered Goods. The linked table is effective 2 November and covers the week 26 October–1 November 2026. It identifies listed consignments by slip number, warehouse, goods description, waybill number, and date received. The notice says the list alerts importers, exporters, and other interested persons that goods have entered a state warehouse; goods that remain unentered may be disposed of under South Africa’s Customs and Excise Act.

A line on the list is a signal to investigate, not proof that a shipment is yours, a decision on tariff classification, or confirmation that every import requirement is satisfied. Goods may be held for different reasons, including an incomplete customs entry, a permit issue, or a provisional detention. If a description is vague or a number only partly matches, ask the South African importer’s customs clearing agent to verify the record with SARS before acting.

Match the record to the shipment and assign the next action

Compare the list’s waybill number and description with the carrier’s arrival or detention notice, delivery order, commercial invoice, packing list, and the supplier’s shipment reference. Record the SARS slip number, warehouse, and stated receipt date, then ask the clearing agent to confirm whether the goods are in a SARS state warehouse or another place treated as one. Keep the document set together; do not rely on a supplier’s carton label or a similar product description alone.

The South African importer or its appointed agent should establish the reason for detention, the customs declaration or permit still required, and the current deadline with SARS. SARS’s state-warehouse policy says unentered goods have 60 days to be cleared under its clearance-declaration procedure before disposal. Do not calculate a deadline from the publication date of a weekly list: confirm the relevant receipt date and deadline with the responsible customs office or agent. Storage rent and other freight or handling charges can also accrue.

Plan the DA 68 release and close the handover

SARS says goods may be released only after applicable customs requirements are met and state-warehouse rent is paid. Its DA 68 guide requires an application for delivery from a state warehouse, with the customs release notification and supporting documents as applicable. These can include a bill of entry, proof that freight and other charges were paid, the original goods-deposit note (DA 322), and authority identifying the person who will collect. The importer or a properly authorised representative must establish lawful entitlement to the goods.

Before collection, confirm the exact document set, rent calculation, payment instructions, collection location, and appointment with the clearing agent and SARS. The policy allows three working days after DA 68 processing to remove released goods before rent becomes payable again. The China supplier can help by promptly providing accurate invoice, packing, and product details, but the South African importer and its licensed or appointed customs agent remain responsible for the local declaration, permits, release application, charges, and collection.

Your next-order checklist

  • Check the SARS weekly list and record the slip number, warehouse, description, waybill, and receipt date for any possible match.
  • Reconcile the record with the carrier notice, delivery order, invoice, packing list, and the importer’s shipment reference; ask the South African clearing agent to verify uncertain matches.
  • Ask SARS or the appointed agent to confirm the detention reason, outstanding entry or permit, applicable 60-day clearance deadline, and any charges; do not infer the deadline from the notice date.
  • Prepare the DA 68 and supporting documents only after the agent confirms the current release requirements, rent calculation, and collection arrangements.
  • After release, coordinate collection within the policy’s three-working-day window and retain clearance, payment, release, and delivery records.

Sources & reference dates

  1. SARS: Customs Weekly List of Unentered Goods now available (2 November 2026)Source published: 2026-11-02
  2. SARS: Weekly List of Unentered Goods, effective 2 November 2026; list period 26 October–1 November 2026Effective: 2026-11-02
  3. SARS: State Warehouses
  4. SARS: Guide to Completion of DA 68
  5. SARS: SC-CW-01-04 State Warehouse External Policy, revision 6 (effective 6 October 2023)Effective: 2023-10-06

Prepared by the Yifeng Sourcing editorial team with AI assistance from the primary sources listed below. Source dates are recorded; destination-specific requirements should be reconfirmed before acting. This is not legal or tax advice.