Johannesburg. The South African Freight and Logistics Association (SAFLA) has established a Gauteng regional chapter, appointing Eric Pillay as regional chairperson and setting its sights on the delays that choke cargo movement through borders and ports.
The chapter was officially launched at a breakfast meeting this week at the Johannesburg Country Club in Woodmead. The event brought together local clearing, forwarding and transport operators alongside other sector stakeholders to mark the start of a provincial platform aligned with SAFLA’s national structures.
Immediate priorities: borders and ports
Pillay, who owns Pro-Active Shipping & Freight Solutions, said the Gauteng chapter will focus initially on improving stakeholder relationships to boost trade and support regional growth. The chapter aims to act as a unified voice for clearing and forwarding firms when engaging with institutions that influence cargo movement.
“We work closely with SAFLA nationally to ensure our issues are addressed,”
The launch underlined the chapter’s dual role: to channel local concerns into national advocacy, and to help smaller and emerging operators raise issues and access support in navigating industry challenges.
How the chapter will operate
SAFLA’s Gauteng platform is intended to link regional issues with countrywide lobbying and coordination. Officials say the chapter will prioritise relationship-building with bodies such as the Border Management Authority and state-owned enterprises, as well as shipping lines that affect how quickly and predictably freight moves through the system.
SAFLA national chairperson Arend du Preez emphasised the importance of regional representation within a national framework:
“By strengthening our regional representation, we ensure local concerns are heard, local expertise is used and local solutions can be developed while still benefiting from national support and coordination.”
That approach reflects a practical aim: to identify bottlenecks specific to Gauteng’s supply chains and to work with relevant agencies to reduce delays that add cost and uncertainty for importers, exporters and transport operators.
Who the chapter will serve
SAFLA Gauteng invited companies involved in clearing, forwarding and transport to join the chapter. Pillay highlighted that the platform will be open to both established firms and emerging operators who need a collective voice when dealing with regulatory and operational hurdles.
- Improve engagement with the Border Management Authority and state-owned enterprises
- Address port and border delays that constrain cargo movement
- Create a forum for smaller operators to raise concerns and access support
Practical effects for Gauteng
Gauteng is South Africa’s economic heartland; smoother cargo flows have a direct effect on retailers, manufacturers and consumers in the province. By focusing first on stakeholder relationships and operational delays at borders and ports, SAFLA Gauteng aims to reduce costly turnaround times for freight and improve predictability along supply chains.
While the chapter’s launch is a step towards coordinated advocacy, practical change will depend on ongoing engagement between the association and the agencies that control border procedures and port operations. Pillay framed the work in straightforward terms: transport is key to keeping the economy running and the chapter wants to see increased cargo volumes moving “efficiently, freely and safely.”
| First-year priority | Main focus |
|---|---|
| Stakeholder engagement | Strengthen relationships with Border Management Authority, SOEs and shipping lines |
| Border and port delays | Identify bottlenecks and advocate for operational improvements |
| Support for smaller operators | Provide a collective voice and access to industry guidance |
The launch signals a push by industry to translate frustration about delays into coordinated action at provincial level. For Gauteng operators, having a dedicated regional chapter means their concerns can be elevated through SAFLA’s national advocacy while tailored local solutions are pursued.
How quickly the chapter’s efforts will translate into measurable improvements at ports and borders remains to be seen; the work ahead will require sustained dialogue and cooperation with government agencies and other industry players.
For now, the new Gauteng chapter offers a structured forum for the freight and logistics sector to consolidate its voice and press for the reforms businesses say are essential to keeping goods moving across and beyond Egoli.
