Problem
South Africa does require a carnet as it's part of a five country economic union (Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Lesotho, Swaziland..?)
The whole idea of a carnet is to show you have the customs money for a TEMPORARY import of a vehicle. The money will only be repaid back to you if you show proof that you have RETURNED with the vehicle to the original country (NL) or it was stolen and/or destroyed with official proof.
So.... you sold the bikes and they tried to officially import something that's only allowed to be temporary imported. The customs agency is correct in saying that you'll have to export the vehicle (but not necessarily back to the original country) and re-import to South Africa NOT on the carnet. If you want to claim on the carnet, then the bikes will have to be sent back to NL. Otherwise it's fraud as it's seen as your trying to avoid paying taxes!
You sold the bikes, didn't pay ZA import taxes AND want to refund the carnets...? Hmmm I think that's Illegal!
Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong...?
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Geoffshing
'Security is a product of one's own imagination, it does not exist in nature as a rule, life is either a daring adventure or nothing.'
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