One would have opined, at least, that the President would have read the reports that dutifully came across his desk during 2025 – and the massive steps that had been taken (well there was massive spending, so…..) would have at least been outlined last night.

That would have given an “easy” follow-through with the next steps that would be happening (with timelines) – not just wide cursory references to what was planned. In that approach, there is no change at all. Vast generalisations of where we (could) be heading and what is planned….

There is no doubt that the country faces four major challenges – water, electricity, crime and the movement of goods and people efficiently and effectively around and through the country to underpin economic activity (development, growth, sustainability and inclusion).

Whilst some comments were made around singular events, there were many aspects that have remained in the background and are not brought into the light for sharp review – and repair / correction (specifically from a road freight perspective):

1 - Challenges in the labour (employment) environment:

• severe shortage of experienced and new drivers due to the poaching of experienced and “incident free” drivers by countries around the world (and in the African region);
• an aging workforce (common ages for drivers are the higher 40s and into the 50s) – agreed we haven’t got to the 100 year old driver, as in the UK!!!
• poor management of work and rest periods (there have been some horrendous cases during 2025),
• intrusion by systems that undermine rates and routes,
• increasing health issues (vision, hypertension and stress, diabetes and obesity) due to aging drivers, long hours and conditions on the road,
• high cost of skills development & basic training,
• reliable / dependable driver burnout (overused),
• lack of appetite from younger generation to follow a career as a freight driver,
• retaining the experienced drivers (find opportunities “outside” the sector).

2 - Numerous supply chain disruptions (congestion at ports and intermodal facilities, deteriorating roads, unusually severe floods that have destroyed logistics points, increasing political /social unrest and protests).

3 - Increased business rescue / closure / distress.

4 - Spiralling operating costs (fuel volatility, insurance risk rates, new technology often “required / demanded” by overseas customers).

5 - Severe price increases in CAPEX related expenditure / fleet maintenance / replacement.

6 - Key challenges facing road freight operators: infrastructure bottlenecks, intense pressure to meet rising freight demand while facing sustainability by being pressurised to move loads for lower and lower rates, regulatory hurdles that can potentially “kill” road freight – AARTO, corruption in authorities, cargo hijacking and theft, licensing (driver and vehicle) and permitting hurdles.

Whilst these are all very focussed on the road freight sector, they remain core to operational dysfunction, and it is critical that these be addressed.

The developments in the Transnet space are the initial tentative steps towards the sustainable intermodal and symbiotic freight logistics chain that has been spoken so often about.

SONA 2026 needed to clearly list the next interventions to support and grow real development in 2026. This was lacking. A lot of the burden is placed in the private sector to implement – however the clear roadmap from the President still seemed to be missing.

Whilst rail integration in a sustainable and reliable manner is key to future logistics success, the road freight sector will pay its role (as it always has) in assisting to enable the whole road freight and intermodal link to road freight (rail, sea and air) to work, together to ensure South Africa becomes the hub that those using freight logistics networks will want to use.

As always – Without Trucks, South Africa Stops.

By Gavin Kelly – CEO of the Road Freight Association