Left to right: Arend du Preez: Vice Chair of SAFLA, Gavin Kelly: CEO of the Road Freight Association, Jonathan McDonald: Vice Chair of SAFLA’s and Freek van Rooyen – Partner: Shipping & Logistics at Shepstone & Wylie.
The South African Freight and Logistics Association (SAFLA) has launched its Gauteng region, appointing Eric Pillay as regional chairperson and placing stakeholder engagement, border delays and port bottlenecks at the centre of its agenda.
Pillay, owner of Pro-Active Shipping & Freight Solutions, will lead the region’s efforts to strengthen industry representation and improve engagement with the organisations that influence cargo movement. “We work closely with SAFLA nationally to ensure that our issues are addressed,” Pillay stated, outlining how the Gauteng chapter will connect regional concerns with SAFLA’s countrywide advocacy and engagement.
The official launch breakfast at the Johannesburg Country Club in Woodmead, brought together freight and logistics colleagues and key stakeholders to mark the establishment of a regional platform supported by SAFLA’s national structures.
A collective voice for Gauteng
Pillay said the chapter responds to clearing and forwarding companies’ need for a collective voice in their dealings with organisations such as the Border Management Authority and other state-owned enterprises and shipping lines. Its first-year priorities centre on improving stakeholder relationships to boost trade and support regional growth, with border and port delays receiving immediate attention.
Pillay’s longer-term vision focuses on stronger partnerships and efficient cargo movement across Gauteng’s supply chains. “Transport is key to keeping the economy going and I would like to see increased cargo volumes moving efficiently, freely and safely.”
SAFLA Gauteng welcomes companies operating in clearing, forwarding and transport in Gauteng. Smaller and emerging operators can use its platform to raise concerns and access support in navigating industry challenges.
Regional action supporting national reform
SAFLA chair Arend du Preez highlighted the association’s commitment to strengthening regional representation within a unified national framework. “By strengthening our regional representation, we ensure that local concerns are heard, local expertise is utilised, and local solutions can be developed while still benefiting from national support and coordination,” du Preez explained.
He emphasised constructive engagement between industry participants to identify the causes of disruption and resolve operational pressure points. “At the end of the day, our objective remains simple,” he said. “Cargo must move.”
Economic regulation, fair access and transparent pricing highlighted
Guest speaker Ian Bird, Transport & Logistics Focal Area Lead at Business for South Africa, addressed the business-government partnership and progress on logistics reforms, placing the regional launch within the broader effort to improve South Africa’s freight system.
Bird’s presentation highlighted the importance of effective economic regulation, fair access and transparent pricing in encouraging investment. “Effective regulation builds confidence and unlocks investment,” Bird highlighted in his presentation.
He also stressed that to deliver the freight volumes so urgently needed by the economy will require both improving the rail network for Transnet and private Train Operating Companies, as well as implementing a comprehensive program of structural reform. The growth in rail volumes will be driven by general freight, which by it’s very nature requires more complex supply chains being developed, operated and managed.
For SAFLA Gauteng, these national priorities reinforce the value of sustained regional engagement with supply chain stakeholders and coordinated escalation of members’ concerns.
SAFLA’s Gauteng chapter aims to help remove bottlenecks, reduce the costs associated with delayed cargo and support trade competitiveness through practical collaboration. Members can also raise local operational issues through SAFLA’s national structures.
Commenting on the launch, Road Freight Association (RFA) CEO Gavin Kelly said the RFA’s MoU with SAFLA means a “stronger, more coordinated industry voice,” while Warwick Lord, chairperson of the Multimodal Inland Port Association (MIPA), added that MIPA “looks forward to working with the association for the benefit of its members and the industry.” Paul Matthew, CEO of the African Meat Importers and Exporters Association added: “Importers and exporters depend on efficient, well-represented freight forwarders. We are proud to partner with SAFLA”.
“It means a great deal to me to be part of SAFLA,” continued Pillay. “The industry has been longing for a voice to air their issues and now we have it.”
Eric Pillay: Owner – Pro-Active Shipping & Freight Solutions
Warwick Lord: Chairperson – Multimodal Inland Port Association (MIPA)
Ian Bird: Transport & Logistics Focal Area Lead – Business for South Africa
Paul Matthew: CEO – African Meat Importers and Exporters Association