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Our team compromises of two directors that specializes and are able to address the entire spectrum of technical and operational Customs and Excise issues. The directors are ex-customs employees at the South African Revenue Service (SARS) and who thereafter were practicing at one of the leading firms dealing with Customs and issues in South Africa. Our team understands both the SARS Customs and the trader’s’ environment, making it simple for clients to engage with Customs and avoid financial implications associated with non-compliance. Based on the aforesaid experience, our team is able to handle a matter with SARS from inception (letter of engagement and Intent) till finality, even through litigation. Our team profiles and experience are elaborated below. LUNGA VILAKAZI Lunga Vilakazi is the director of NLV ATTORNEYS. Lunga obtained his Bachelor of Laws (LLB) with the University of South Africa and completed his articles of clerkship at the office of the State Attorney Pretoria. Upon his admission as an attorney of the High Court, Lunga was employed as a legal advisor by the South African Revenue Service (SARS) in their Customs and Excise Litigation division. During his stay at SARS, Lunga gained vast experience in customs and excises related matters (i.e., tariff, valuation, warehousing, licensing and rebates etc.). Lunga was also a senior associate at a leading firm specialising in customs and excise matters, Shepstone and Wylie Attorneys. In this role, represented various clients in the value chain from importers, exporters, clearing agents and licensees of various warehouses etc. Based on the said experience, Lunga has gained a broad overview in relation to Customs related disputes which will certainly benefit any client with Customs related issues. As indicated above, Lunga has excellent experience in this area of law having had the opportunity to work at SARS but more importantly having the experience of working with various clients in the value chain. ORATILE LEGALATLADI Oratile Legalatladi is the director of VILAKAZI NLV ATTORNEYS. Oratile obtained his Bachelor of Laws (LLB) with the Northwest University (NWU). Oratile also holds a Master of Laws (LLM) in Mercantile Law (with specific focus on customs valuation and transfer pricing). Oratile after obtaining his LLB he was employed by the South African Revenue Service (SARS) in their Customs and Excise division, servicing the Internal National Appeals Committee sitting at SARS Head Office. At SARS, Oratile was working directly with the Chairperson of the Customs National Appeal Committee (CNAC). Oratile was handing cases on all technical and operational Customs and Excise disputes. Oratile also rotated and worked at different divisions within the Customs department, for example, licensing and registration, post-clearance audits and ports of entries (borders and harbours). During his stay at SARS, Oratile gained vast experience in Customs and Excises related matters (i.e., tariff, valuation, warehousing, licensing and rebates etc.). Oratile completed his articles of clerkship at Shepstone and Wylie Attorneys, under their Customs and Excise department. Upon his admission he was employed as an associate at Shepstone and Wylie Attorneys where he was responsible of providing advice to clients at all levels of the customs supply chain, including importers, exporters, clearing agents and manufacturers. Oratile also attended to drafting application papers to high court applications on dispute handled. Oratile handled back-to-back customs litigation issues. Oratile also attended to disputes with the National Consumer Commission (“NCC”) pertaining to labelling of imported goods.
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