NATIONAL NEWS - The SA Post Office expects large volumes of mail owing to pent-up demand as it reintroduced its airmail service to New Zealand.
Meanwhile, the air mail services to Germany, Oman and Sri Lanka have been suspended.
Surface mail – mail transported by boat – remains available and is a particularly cost-effective service.
When sending items to other countries, it’s important to make sure the items will be allowed into the country ahead of time.
The best source of information is the website of the postal administration in the destination country.
New Zealand and Australia, for example, do not allow any items made of wood or straw sent to the country. This means that a traditional pencil, for example, will be confiscated.
The parcel should be sturdy, the address correct, and the receiver’s mobile phone number should appear on the parcel.
This makes it possible for the post office in the foreign country to send the receiver a text message to collect the item.
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.
South Africans are entitled to two tax-free gifts from abroad per year, provided the value of each gift is below R1 400. More information is on the SARS website.
