For these goods, you have to have the permit before your goods are shipped and it is only valid for your use, for the class of goods and the country specified.
When you’ll require a permit
Goods entering South Africa that require import permits include:
- Books
- Clothing
- Fabrics
- Food products
- Footwear
- Industrial products
- Materials imported as original equipment for the manufacture of motor vehicles.
- Motor and aviation fuels
- Paper products
- Refined petroleum products
- Used equipment
- Wood
You will have to renew your permit every calendar year, so if you got it in September, you would have to renew it the following January.