Foreigners required to declare money brought into S.Africa

Foreigners entering South Africa were required to declare the money they bring with them, the South Africa Revenue Service (SARS) said on Thursday

"For foreign nationals there is no limitation (on the amount they can bring in), but there is a legal expectation to declare it at customs," SARS spokesperson Adrian Lackay said.

"This is a legal obligation on the traveller" to fill a form issued at the customs, Lackay said, adding that this would help the traveller once he or she encountered any difficulties in the country.

"What is of concern is when South Africa has a well-regulated banking system... there should be little need for someone to carry large amounts of money on their person," Lackay said.

When people carry large amounts of money it could arouse suspicion, he said.

Lackay made the remarks after 1.9 million rand (about 230,000 dollars) was reported stolen from an investment banker linked to the Arab royal family. It was apparently taken from the safe in his Sandton hotel room in Johannesburg last Saturday.

Lackay said SARS had since met with the banker Farid Alshabbar and his lawyer.

The hotel staff were suspected of the theft. A porter has since been arrested and police were still looking for the hotel's head of security, according to the South African Press Association.