For many importers, the safest place for a container over the holidays is not their own yard. Secure container storage over the shutdown means somewhere that is staffed, licensed for the cargo’s customs status, and able to deal with a problem on 26 December rather than on 4 January.
The risk is easy to underestimate. Sites close, security runs on reduced staff, and a loaded container or trailer standing at a quiet premises for two weeks is an obvious target. Tracker’s data for January to June 2025 showed business-owned vehicles were 48% more likely to be targeted by criminals than private vehicles, with Gauteng accounting for 57% of business-vehicle crime (Tracker, 10 November 2025).
This guide compares the places a container can spend the shutdown, explains when to keep cargo in the box and when to unpack it, and lists what to check before you hand over your stock.
Why Is the Holiday Shutdown a Risky Time for Cargo?
Three things change at once. Fewer people are watching, so theft, water damage or a failed reefer can go unnoticed for days. Fewer people can act, because the staff who sign releases and authorise payments are on leave. And the charges keep running, because demurrage, detention and storage do not stop for public holidays.
Cargo still under customs control adds a fourth issue: it may only be kept at a place licensed by SARS, and it cannot simply be moved to whichever site is convenient.
What Are Your Storage Options Over the Shutdown?
| Option | Best for | Customs status | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your own premises | Cleared cargo with on-site security and staff | Cleared only | Unattended yards, reduced guarding, no one to receive late deliveries |
| Port terminal | Very short stays inside free time | Cleared or uncleared | Storage charges after free time; congestion; no unpacking |
| Customs-licensed container depot | Containers that land late, uncleared cargo, unpacking | Cleared or uncleared | Check its licence, security and holiday contact |
| Bonded warehouse | Goods you want to store with duty and VAT deferred | Uncleared, under bond | Release procedures and bond paperwork |
| General warehouse | Cleared, palletised stock | Cleared only | Must receive unpacked cargo; not for containers |
A container depot licensed under section 6(1)(hB) of the Customs and Excise Act may store, detain, unpack and examine containers and their contents while they are under customs control (SARS: Depots). Our guides to container depots versus warehouses and how bonded warehousing works cover the differences in more depth.
Should You Keep Cargo in the Container or Unpack It?
Keeping cargo in a sealed container is simple and keeps the goods untouched, but the shipping line’s detention clock runs until the empty is returned. Over a two-week shutdown that can be the largest cost on the file.
Unpacking at a depot ends detention once the empty is turned in and lets the cargo be stored on pallets, counted and inspected. It suits cargo that will be delivered in several loads in January. Keep it in the box when the cargo is fragile, when it will go to one consignee in one trip, or when your free time comfortably covers the shutdown.
What About Reefer Containers?
Refrigerated containers cannot simply be parked. They need continuous power, temperature checks and someone who can respond to an alarm. Over the holidays, that usually means a depot with plug points and staff on site. Our guide to reefer plug points at an inland depot explains what to ask for.
What Should You Check Before Choosing Holiday Storage?
- Licence: for uncleared cargo, a SARS container depot or bond store licence.
- Security: guarding, CCTV, lighting and access control that run through the holidays.
- Release control: who may collect your cargo, and how authority is checked.
- Insurance: whether your cover still applies to goods stored off site, and what liability the operator accepts.
- Reefer support: power, monitoring and response times for temperature alarms.
- Holiday contact: a named person you can reach between Christmas and New Year.
- Reporting: stock or container status updates while you are away.
How Does Shipping & General Store Cargo Over the Shutdown?
Our customs-licensed container depot and bond store in Germiston, about 5 km from City Deep, stores cleared and uncleared containers, unpacks them and holds the cargo until you are ready for delivery. Security includes HD CCTV and vetted staff, and reefer containers can stay on plug points over weekends and public holidays.
Because we also hold a Remover of Goods in Bond licence, uncleared containers can be moved from the port or City Deep into the depot under customs control, and delivered once they are released.
Frequently Asked Questions About Secure Container Storage
Can I store uncleared containers over the holidays?
Yes, at a container depot licensed by SARS. It can store, detain, unpack and examine containers under customs control until they are cleared.
Is it safe to leave a loaded container at my premises over December?
Only if the site stays guarded and someone can respond to an alarm. If your premises will be empty, a staffed depot is usually the safer choice.
Does detention stop while a container is in storage?
No. Detention runs until the empty container is returned to the shipping line’s nominated depot, wherever the full container is kept.
What is the difference between a container depot and a bonded warehouse?
A container depot handles containers, including uncleared ones. A bonded warehouse stores goods with duty and VAT deferred until they are released for home use.
Can reefer containers be stored over public holidays?
Yes, at a depot with reefer plug points and staff who monitor temperatures and respond to alarms throughout the holidays.
Still Have Containers Landing Before January?
Tell us the container numbers, cargo type and customs status, and we will arrange collection, storage or unpacking at our Germiston depot until your site reopens.
If you are already planning next year’s shutdown, we can map out holiday storage with you well before December.