So the World Cup is over and we can get back to the serious business of freight forwarding. The closing ceremony was superb wasn’t it? Just a pity the final didn’t live up to expectations. I had the privilege of attending the game on one of the frostiest nights this winter. It was so cold and uninspiring that during extra time, someone shouted out “Will someone – anyone – just score a goal so we can all go home!” I read with interest my old colleague Bob Garbett’s article in FTW on the competency of industry ‘sniffer dogs’ deployed to ‘scan’ export cargo in compliance with Part 108 of the Aviation Act. I am aware that one such dog – Ollie by name – was put to the test in predicting the result of the World Cup Final with a view to competing with ‘Paul the Octopus’. Flags of Spain and the Netherlands were covered with the dog’s favourite treats and ‘Oracle Ollie’ without the slightest hesitation went straight for – the Netherlands. Ah well, I hear he can detect a whiff of explosives at 100 paces. Don’t give up your day job Ollie. New Saaff ‘coach’ Now while SAFA didn’t waste any time in replacing Carlos Alberto Parreira, Saaff has certainly deliberated long and hard over finding a new coach for the Association. I understand however that there is now a shortlist of three candidates. Watch this space. Transformation Saaff has created a transformation portfolio to look at the pool of future recruits for industry leadership and it is clear that the current demographics pose a real challenge. According to the returns submitted to Teta, the general race and gender profile for the transport industry reveals that we are far from achieving equitable representation of designated groups in the critical management and leadership levels. These groups presently make up only 26% of the numbers employed in the highest categories. Perhaps not unexpectedly, the industry as a whole is male dominated at 77% of total employees. Limpopo hub I hear that the Department of Transport has requested a feasibility study on establishing an air cargo hub in Limpopo Province. It wasn’t so long ago that a similar investigation was conducted to set up such a facility in Upington. That idea was allegedly abandoned due to anticipated low cargo volumes against the cost of the investment. Will Limpopo succeed? I could ask Ollie for his input... Alan Cowell On a sad note, longtime executive director of Saaff, Alan Cowell, passed away during July, just a week short of his 88th birthday. Alan served the industry for many years and was responsible for establishing the first Fiata diploma course in South Africa. One of the true gentlemen of the clearing and forwarding fraternity, Alan was dedicated to the Association and passionate about his work. He will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by all in the industry who knew and worked with him.
