C+F industry gets professional stamp

Moves to professionalise the freight forwarding and customs clearing industry took a major step forward this month when the South African Association of Freight Forwarders (Saaff) board agreed to establish a professional institute. This will see professional designations being allocated upon completion of training. “We believe this move will go a long way towards ensuring a high level of standards within the industry and it could become a reality by the end of this year,” said Tony d’Almeida, who manages the Saaff education and training portfolio. He told FTW that this followed the industry body’s accreditation with Fiata (International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations) to issue its internationally recognised diploma and the Higher Diploma in Supply Chain Management. “Last year 12 learners in South Africa earned the Fiata Diploma,” said d’Almeida. He explains that Levels 3, 4 and 5 of the National Certificate Vocation (previously known in South Africa as the National Qualifications Framework) in Freight Forwarding and Customs Clearing are in line with Fiata’s international qualification requirements. Members who have completed the NCV/NQF levels can apply to undergo a Saaff assessment process after which they will be issued with a Fiata Diploma (for levels 3 and 4) and an international Fiata Higher Diploma in Supply Chain Management (for level 5), provided they pass the stringent assessments set by Saaff. “Once the institute is up and running, there will be professional designations allocated at each qualification level,” says d’Almeida. An NCV 3 qualification will have an “Endorsed in Freight Forwarding and Customs Clearing” designation, while an NCV 4 level will have an “Administrator in Freight Forwarding and Customs Clearing” designation. An NCV 5 level qualification gives the member a “Practitioner in Freight Forwarding and Customs Clearing” designation. The professional institute will require the individual members to sign a code of ethics and formally commit to continuous learning and development. CAPTION Tony d’Almeida ... ‘could be a reality by year-end.’