Government has extended a range of pre-2009 freight forwarding and customs qualifications for up to 12 months, but industry stakeholders say the move does not address the qualifications currently used by the sector.
The extensions, published earlier in June, form part of a broader decision covering approximately 635 legacy qualifications across all sectors. They include the National Certificate: Freight Forwarding and Customs Compliance, the National Diploma: Freight Forwarding and Customs Compliance and the FET Certificate: Freight Forwarding and Customs Compliance (59298).
However, the Institute of Customs and Freight Forwarding (ICFF) argues that the qualifications extended are outdated and no longer widely recognised by the industry. "We would rather they extend the occupational qualifications that expired in 2025. Those are more relevant," said ICFF chief executive Ingrid du Buisson.
The Supply Chain Management qualification was replaced by occupational qualifications in 2018, while the Freight Forwarding and Customs Compliance qualifications were replaced by the Occupational Certificate: Clearing and Forwarding Agent in 2021, according to Du Buisson. That qualification expired in December last year, she said. "These are meaningless to us in the industry; we don't recognise these at all.”
Responding to the concerns, South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) senior manager Japie Nel said responsibility for replacement qualifications rested with the relevant Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs).
"Only the SETA will be able to address this. They are responsible for ensuring that replacement qualifications are available before the last date of enrolment," Nel said.
The industry's concerns were not new and efforts to update and replace qualifications had been under way for several years, Du Buisson said. “The ICFF and other industry bodies have been applying to the Transport Education Training Authority (TETA) for funding to redesign qualifications for the past three years. We are consistently told there is no money," she said.
The ICFF has also raised concerns about a lack of alignment between the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) and the higher education system. Learners who had completed occupational qualifications were unable to have their credits recognised by universities, limiting opportunities to pursue postgraduate studies, Du Buisson said.
