Botswana and SA cooperation on standards laws

19 Sep 2019

South Africa and Botswana have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to formalise their commitment to collaborate on all standards related matters, including standards development and recognising South Africa as an inspection services provider for the implementation of the Botswana Standards (import inspection) regulations.

Signing ceremony (L-R): Garth Strachan, acting CEO of SABS; Jodi Scholtz, Group Chief Operating Officer at the dti and co-administrator of SABS; Tshenge Demana, Chief Director of Technical Infrastructure Institutions at the dti and co-administrator of SABS; Alfred Kgotlaesile, Manager Compulsory Standards at BOBS; Masego Marobela Managing Director of BOBS; and Keo Segomelo, Director Standards at BOBS.

The South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) and the Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOBS) signed the Agreement in Cape Town, 18 September, on the sidelines of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) week 2019.

“Botswana and South Africa share similar challenges in terms of socio-economic issues and it makes sense that as we strive to improve the lives of our people and our economies, we find ways to increase our collaboration. Botswana intends to fulfil the terms of the agreement and looks forward to a fruitful partnership with South Africa regarding all matters of standards development, conformity assessment and related matters,” said Masego Marobela managing director of BOBS.

“Regional partnerships are important for cementing relationships, sharing resources and building capacity. Such collaborative agreements strengthen ties with our neighbours and will contribute to investment-led trade and regional industrial integration, in which the harmonisation of standards must play and important part,” said Garth Strachan, acting CEO of SABS.