/ 2 March 1999

R7,2bn PAYOUT FOR CUSTOMS UNION

SOUTH Africa’s Southern African Customs Union partners will receive a payout of some R7,2-billion this year, a 28% jump on last year’s payout from the union’s revenue pool. The payout, however, is likely to be the last one of such magnitude as pressure to restructure the revenue-sharing formula grows, Business Day reported on Thursday. The current structure means that South Africa — which administers the kitty — gets the spoils only after paying out other signatories.