SA Post Office
HAD TO PAY IMPORT TAX FOR A GIFT

A friend in USA sent me a wall calendar (printed matter) as a birthday/Christmas gift. The envelope (II 291 764 350 ZA) was clearly marked GIFT (3x). Upon receipt at the local PO, I had to pay R99(!) customs duty. So I paid the amount in order to get my calendar and decided to take up the matter with JIMC (Johannesburg International Mail Centre) from where the tax originated. The usual - holding the line, holding, holding, holding. I tried a couple of times. Could not speak to anybody. So I tried the fax way. More than half a dozen faxes later and still no answer and still no response. So I'm still in the dark as to why I had to pay R99 for a GIIFT consisting of printed matter.