DHL Express - very poor service

The name DHL Express is an oxy***** as there is nothing "express" about it. My package was sent from Cape Town on 6 May 2021 with destination Newcastle, UK. Since the 7 May my package is held up in Amsterdam - allegedly for Customs inspection. The package was a book (cookery) for a work colleague who is retiring. I have done all the chasing with numerous calls plus E-mails to Customer Service in South Africa, The Netherlands and the UK but all now sing the party tune - "its in the hands of Customs, there is nothing we can do!" Nearly a month, I am down ZAR 1,000 for the shipment plus my friend hasn't got his book.

What is the point in having a tracking number if the system doesn't track the shipment and alert me that there has been no movement since 7 May.

I find it hard to believe that Dutch Customs can hold a shipment for nearly a month.

As South Africa has a Postal Service in a poor state of operation one is forced to use expensive courier companies and it seems to me that DHL assume there is no competition and they can treat their customers badly.

I am disgusted at their very poor level of service, in fact at their total lack of service.