Resource
SADC starter pack
Use this SADC starter pack to get your first batch of cartons across the border without tripping over small but costly paperwork steps.
This guide supports real briefs across Cape Town, Gauteng, and beyond. For a tailored pack, email magic@bizmagic.co.za.
- Written for South African founder teams
- Pairs with supplier notes
- Link your kit from the kits hub
What you get in the pack
The SADC starter pack is set up for small exporters from places like Somerset West or Brits who want to send a few cartons over the border. Inside you’ll find clearly labelled fields you’ll see on the actual SADC certificate and supporting docs. Every sheet is printable or can be typed into if you need digital files for your records. These resources make it simpler to fill requirements for a SADC certificate of origin, a basic invoice for customs, and a checklist to track supporting documents (like the HS code summary and a copy of your business licence). Each section is laid out for actual use, not pretty pictures.
- Exporter name, address, and contact details
- Consignee/importer information
- Boxed list for goods description (product name, quantity, value in rand, HS code)
- Country of origin declaration
- Transport method and vehicle details
- Signature, date, and company stamp areas
- Checklist for attachments (SARS clearance, FICA pack, municipal trading permit)
Filling it in: step-by-step basics
These steps are meant for busy founders who’d rather be sorting stock than fussing with forms. Grab the pack and start at the top, one field at a time. Keep steady records. It’ll save stress when you’re standing at Beitbridge, or if the border official in Botswana wants to see your paperwork from Brits.
- Write your business name and trading address (e.g., Somerset West Fruit Co-op, 14 Vergelegen Road, Somerset West, 7130).
- Enter the buyer's details, including country and physical address.
- Describe the goods plainly: product name, number of cartons, rand value, and the correct HS code (e.g. "Table grapes, 5 cartons, R1200, HS code 0806.10").
- Mark South Africa as country of origin for goods grown or made here. Cross-check with B-BBEE affidavit if the buyer asks.
- List the method of transport, van, bakkie, courier, and note the vehicle or waybill number.
- Fill in the signature section. Affix your company stamp. Date it after reviewing for errors.
- Attach supporting docs: your SARS eFiling VAT201 printout (if registered), supplier invoice, current FICA pack, municipal licence copy, and B-BBEE affidavit where needed.
Sample filled-in carton entry
Picture Jabu’s Copperbelt Tiles (Brits) shipping 6 boxes of floor tiles to a reseller in Gaborone. In the goods description box, Jabu enters: “Ceramic tiles, 6 boxes, R2200, HS code 6907.90.” Under method, he puts “courier, ABC Express, waybill 24918.” Exporter address is Copperbelt Tiles, 9 Rustenburg Road, Brits, 0250. Jabu makes the silly mistake of putting the delivery date in the signature box, so he has to redo that page. In the attachment checklist, he ticks off his municipal trading permit and SARS VAT201. This way customs in Botswana know the shipment is legal, and Jabu doesn’t get stuck at the border.
Avoiding common export trip-ups
The most usual mix-ups: forgetting to match the HS code to the correct products (this one trips up many a first-time Somerset West jam maker), missing out the company stamp, mixing up consignee and exporter addresses, or skipping the signature altogether. Other headaches: leaving out the supporting docs or writing a rand value that doesn’t match the invoice. Remember, for any doubts about the legal sign-off, a registered tax practitioner or accountant should review before you send off. You’ll find more resources for export steps in our full resources library or browse the starter kits most founders use.
When to use a supplier hub
Bring your filled-out SADC forms to your nearest supplier hub if you want someone to double-check for red flags before your courier picks up. Especially helpful if your first time at Lebombo or you’re exporting mixed goods (say, hardware and food items to Francistown). The Somerset West hub is by appointment, just like our others in Sandton and Pretoria. Email usbizmagic.co.za to book a slot. If you’re looking for supplier recommendations for packaging or freight, see our supplier hubs or read through recent supplier notes.
