New industry body set to streamline trade, tackle border delays, and empower SMMEs
South Africa’s freight and logistics sector has a new champion. The South African Freight and Logistics Association (SAFLA) officially launched as a dedicated industry body focused on representing the operational realities of freight forwarders and logistics operators across the country.
Built on data-driven advocacy and operational relevance, SAFLA enters the industry with a clear mandate: tackle the friction points that long slowed trade and burdened businesses.
“We represent the operational reality others are too centralised to capture,” says SAFLA’s founding Executive Officer, Dave Logan. “SAFLA exists to solve specific problems border delays, permit duplication, valuation disputes, and to do so with data and accountability.”
Unlike traditional industry bodies, SAFLA focuses on measurable outcomes at the coalface of trade. The association will maintain formal representation at key border posts and ports including Durban, Cape Town, Beitbridge, Lebombo, and Ngqura, ensuring corridor specific challenges receive dedicated attention.
Immediate priorities include engagements with the South African Revenue Service (SARS), Transnet, the Border Management Authority (BMA), and 17 government agencies intersecting with freight forwarding and customs compliance.
One of SAFLA’s defining commitments is equal representation across South Africa’s provinces. Its governance structure includes constitutional voting quotas, a mandatory National Executive with regional delegates, rotating committee chairmanships, and formal escalation channels from regional to national levels.
SMME development lies at the heart of SAFLA’s mission. Tiered membership options including micro, SME, and corporate provide equal advocacy rights, while payment plans and project based participation options lower barriers to entry. “SMMEs are the backbone of this industry,” Logan states.
“SAFLA takes pride in being an association that builds them up through fit for purpose workshops, capacity building, and training interventions that align with the aspirational objectives of SARS and the broader trade environment.”
The association is also committed to nurturing future industry leaders. A Young Professionals Forum, mentorship programs, and partnerships with universities and TVET colleges are already planned. SAFLA’s accreditation framework, developed with FIATA, SARS, and relevant SETAs including TETA, will provide industry recognized certifications covering border clearance, customs compliance, and multimodal logistics coordination.
Logan has a clear vision for the first year. “Within 12 months, we expect to demonstrate at least two measurable regulatory improvements, establish functional regional committees across key corridors, and publish data backed position papers that shift the conversation. SAFLA will be indispensable because it stays close to the friction points in the supply chain.”