Background

Saimex Agencies, is a medium size company, originally formed in 1982.

In 1985 the company was acquired by its present directors and a customs clearing and forwarding division was developed. Shortly afterwards the company expanded into other aspects of shipping and cargo handling including Ships Agency Support Services, Freight Brokerage, Groupage Operations ( NVOCC), Transport and Warehousing.

In 1989, Viking Shipping cc was registered as a Close Corporation in terms of the Company`s Registration Act, and all interests of Saimex Agencies transferred into the close corporation.

Since then the company has further expanded its service base with branch office operations in Johannesburg and Cape Town, Pretoria and Port Elizabeth.

In 1992 the company was admitted as a member of the Durban Regional Chamber of Business.

Technical Personnel

1. Management Staff:

   Vinesh Maharaj: 33 years experience in ships agency, and customs clearing and forwarding, with diplomas in customs clearing, forwarding, containerisation, and is an Associate member of The International Export Association (Lincolnshire, England)

   Naresh Maharaj: 35 years experience in clearing and forwarding, transport and commodity brokerage, with a diploma in Training Management and Marketing, NLP Practitioner.  

Albert Phama: 12 years experience in Import and Export procedures and customs, airfreight / seafreight in Johannesburg.

Management are intimately involved in all operational aspects of the business, with a high level of customer liaison to ensure customer satisfaction.

The company`s objective is to enlarge its customer base with emphasis placed on customer satisfaction, with regards to technical execution of the work and to ensure strict compliance with all declared specification for quality and service.

Company management and staff are available after hours and seven days a week for any urgent services that may be required.

Resources

The company subscribes to the latest technology through EDI network with SARS for Customs documentation. Its main feature is the production of Customs Bill of entry (SAD500 and all it`s variations). The Bill of Entry is fully computerised and incorporates a tariff library, detailing specific commodities and the tariffs applicable. All entry types (import and export) and tariff headings - without exception - are produced. The system interfaces with Customs through a dedicated gateway. It also has a direct link to a Customs Tariff look up library and produces documents relevent for Port operations and Airfreight handling.

Public information data, including customs tariffs, daily updates on customs exchange rates, daily container unpack lists from container depots, ship and flight schedules, and changes in customs duty tariffs as amended by SARS are updated on a daily basis.

The company is a level 3 contributor under the BBBEE rating system with 110% compliance.

Saimex Agencies, through its membership of SAAFF is kept abreast of all new technology and legislation pertaining to Customs and the Freight & Shipping environment.

 The company recently adopted a paperless software solution (Hotdox) for its clients. This is a long term storage facility is recognised and accepted by SARS. This system allows us to store all clients documents in a file which can then be extracted by the relevant client. Issued with a user name and password, all information stored on the system will be available to them.

Facilities

All operations in freight forwarding, shipping, clearing and freight consolidations are controlled from the company's Head Office:-

Unit 12

7 Willowfield Crescent,

Springfield Park,

Durban, 4001

Together with branch offices at:-

235 Main Road                                                                 38 Shearer Green

Martindale                                                                         Victoria Palms

Johannesburg                                                                      Milnerton, Cape Town

Sub contractors are selected on their ability to meet the company's needs and their performance is annually reviewed. Capable partners in warehousing and distribution; cargo repairs and wharf services; transport and cartage contractors, including a network of agents both nationally, over border and internationally, facilitate the efficient movement of cargoes to their destinations.

Staff are well versed with Customs and Portnet procedures and are qualified by TETA (Transport Education and Training Authority) standards in Shipping , Forwarding and Clearing Practice. The company also has a programme for the ongoing training of personnel and has staff attending TETA approved courses regularly.

The company is proud of it's record of supplying customers with quality services in the field of freight forwarding and logistics within agreed specifications and requirements. Since it's inception both management and staff have worked hard to build up a reputation for quality, reliability and excellent service.

The company subscribes to the broad based BEE Codes of Good Practice and has obtained a BEE Procurement Recognition Level of 110% as a level 3 Contributor.