Sars cans OR Tambo airport traveller management project

The South African Revenue Service (Sars) is not taking any chances with an ill-fated project at OR Tambo International Airport aimed at processing passengers and managing the movement of goods, as it is beset with challenges in its compliance and enforcement interventions.

The Traveller Management System is part of the OR Tambo International Airport passenger processing project and aims to improve operational efficiency, strengthen border management and enhance working conditions for frontline officials.

According to Sars’s 2025/26 annual report, construction remains partially complete due to historical service provider challenges. A new contractor took site possession in November, commencing work shortly after. However, persistent non-performance led to its termination by Sars. “To date, only a limited portion of the contract value has been certified and paid,” the report said.

Sars has told Business Times that it takes accountability and consequence management seriously and has addressed implementation challenges through the applicable governance, contractual and legal processes.

“In relation to the OR Tambo International Airport project, Sars exercised the contractual remedies available to it, including terminating the contractor’s appointment in accordance with contractual provisions. Sars has implemented the relevant contractual and governance actions, while certain elements of the smart border project remain subject to ongoing litigation and related legal processes.”

Sars said it remains committed to advancing its modernisation programme in a manner that protects public resources, strengthens border management and supports legitimate trade and travel. “The initiatives are intended to strengthen the detection and management of high-risk movements, improve the accuracy of traveller and cargo information, support more effective border controls, and better identify illicit trade, smuggling, and other high-risk non-compliance activities.”

In the report, Sars commissioner Johnstone Makhubu , said the year presented challenges that require sustained institutional focus, including economic fragility, with low growth, high unemployment, and constrained household incomes placing pressure on revenue mobilisation.

“Illicit trade, organised economic crime, refund abuse, cyber threats, data complexity, and evolving taxpayer behaviours continued to test Sars’s compliance and enforcement capabilities.