The South African Freight and Logistics Association (SAFLA) has officially launched as a new industry body dedicated to representing the ground-level interests of freight forwarders and logistics operators across South Africa.
Built on a foundation of data-driven advocacy and operational relevance, SAFLA enters the industry with a clear mandate to tackle the friction points that have long slowed trade and burdened businesses.
SAFLA's founding Executive Officer, Dave Logan, is unambiguous about the association's purpose. “We represent the operational reality others are too centralised to capture," he says. "SAFLA exists to solve specific problems - border delays, permit duplication, valuation disputes - and to do so with data and accountability.”
Grounded in operations, driven by data
Unlike traditional industry bodies that tend toward broad policy positioning, 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 that corridor-specific challenges receive dedicated attention.
SAFLA's immediate priorities include engagements with the South African Revenue Service (SARS), Transnet, the Border Management Authority (BMA), and all 17 government agencies and controlling authorities that intersect with freight forwarding and customs compliance in the country.
The association will use shipment data, delay records, and cost analysis to inform every regulatory submission and stakeholder engagement.
"We are not here to make noise," Logan says. "We are here to deliver quick, visible wins with regulators and ensure measurable impact.”
A fair voice for every region and every business
One of SAFLA's defining commitments is equal representation across South Africa's provinces.
The association's governance structure includes constitutional voting quotas, a mandatory National Executive with regional delegates, rotating committee chairmanships, and formal escalation channels from regional to national level.
This architecture deliberately prevents the Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal dominance that has historically marginalised operators in other provinces.
SAFLA also places SMME development at the heart of its mission. Tiered membership options, including micro, SME, and corporate categories, ensure that smaller operators can access the same advocacy rights as large corporates.
Payment plans and project-based participation options lower the barriers to entry further, making SAFLA accessible to the businesses that need it most.
"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."
Building the industry's future leadership
SAFLA recognises that long-term relevance depends on attracting and developing the next generation of freight and logistics professionals.
The association will establish a Young Professionals Forum, mentorship programmes, and partnerships with universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges.
A clear leadership succession plan is already embedded in SAFLA's founding governance model, with the explicit intention of passing executive leadership to a young, diverse successor.
The accreditation framework, developed in partnership with the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA), SARS, and relevant Sector Education Training Authorities (SETAs) - including the Transport Education Training Authority (TETA) - will introduce industry-recognised certifications covering border clearance, customs compliance, and multimodal logistics coordination.
Logan is clear-eyed about what success looks like for SAFLA in its 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," he concludes.
SAFLA is open for membership enquiries with immediate effect. For more information, contact Dave Logan on 082 927 2040, Jonathan McDonald on 079 882 5931 Clifford Evans on 083 363 3912 & Llewellyn Osborne on 082 902 0096 Dave Watts on 083 633 0865 & Rex McGregor on 083 453 9750
