Helping freight businesses resolve operational problems with border agencies and shipping lines will be an immediate priority for the newly launched South African Freight and Logistics Association (SAFLA) Gauteng branch.
The branch was launched on October 20 in Johannesburg with Eric Pillay, Director of Pro-Active Shipping & Freight Solutions, as Chairperson.
Rebuilding relationships with border management agencies and improving communication between these institutions and freight businesses will be early priorities, Pillay told Freight News.
The branch intends to act as an intermediary between members and relevant authorities, helping businesses address problems they may struggle to resolve individually.
“We want to facilitate as a go-between for them and any issues they have with the border management agencies as well as shipping lines and other entities,” Pillay said.
He identified operational bottlenecks involving certain agencies as a concern and said the branch will focus on issues affecting its members in Gauteng.
Members can currently raise concerns through existing email and WhatsApp channels while more comprehensive communication arrangements are being developed.
“The broader aim is to give businesses a stronger collective voice when engaging with authorities,” Pillay said.
Speaking to Freight News on the sidelines of the launch, Road Freight Association Chief Executive Gavin Kelly said collaboration between logistics industry bodies could help identify shared challenges. These could then be presented collectively to government departments and private-sector stakeholders.
“We all have similar challenges we present in a uniform broad front to various government departments or private players,” Kelly said.
Operational inefficiencies could have direct commercial consequences for freight businesses, he added. Trucks held at borders for extended periods, for example, cannot undertake other trips. Operators might also have to wait until deliveries are completed to receive payment, placing pressure on cash flow.
Pillay acknowledged that the branch is still in its early stages with much work ahead to grow its membership and develop its structures.
