Interfront Annual Report 2022

PART A: GENERAL INFORMATION 11 skills in areas where Interfront has begun to lag in the competitive market. The intervention alleviated some of the pressure, and Interfront ended the financial year with a staff turnover rate of 17.5%. Although Interfront has not succeeded in achieving the target on retention in the current financial year, there is evidence that it has reduced staff loss to a more tolerable level. However, close monitoring is needed in the short term to ensure the long-term effectiveness of the actions. 2.4 Strategic Focus over the Medium to Long Term During October 2021, SARS approached Interfront with a proposal to incorporate the human resources of the team who are responsible for the enhancement, development and support of the MobiApp and eFiling system in SARS. The success and strategic importance of the SARS eFiling and MobiApp solutions necessitates that SARS safeguards the ongoing operation, maintenance, development and enhancement of these strategic assets. While SARS retains ownership of the assets, such as, but not limited to, the source code, system documentation, and intellectual property rights, there was significant dependency on the resources for all development, maintenance and day-to-day support services, institutional knowledge, technical skills, and development experience. The full migration included the transfer of the eFiling and MobiApp team as a fully functional operating unit and included the management team and analyst and software development resources. This established an eFiling competency within Interfront, alongside the Customs competency. Furthermore, Interfront benefited from the incorporation of cross-functional skills, bringing additional multidisciplinary talent, and introducing additional synergies and cost savings. At the same time, the foundation was laid for Interfront to serve SARS’ future needs as an innovation hub capable of incubating end-to-end digital solutions. The team joined Interfront on 1 April 2022, which necessitated a review of Interfront’s Strategic Plan to provide for these additional services. The new Strategic Plan was approved prior to the commencement of the 2022/2023 financial year. In addition to the enhancement, development and support of the customs and border management solution, Interfront will now be responsible for the development, enhancement and support of the MobiApp and eFiling systems in SARS. 2.5 Appreciation On 10 June 2022, Mr Beyers Theron and Ms Yolandè van der Merwe retired their positions as Non-Executive Directors of the Board and Mr Erick Smith was appointed as a Non-Executive Director by the Shareholder on 14 June 2022. I wish to express my gratitude to each of the exiting Directors for their support and guidance during their tenure on the Interfront Board. 2.6 Conclusion Interfront plays a significant, if silent role in the efficient and secure customs collections and border control for South Africa and I would like to express my sincerest thanks to the Shareholder, my fellow Board members, management, and all the staff of Interfront who have made this possible. Mustaq Enus-Brey Date: 31 July 2022 5. FOREWORD BY THE CHAIRPERSON (CONT.)