Transport Month: SAPICS urges skills and collaboration to rescue SA’s failing logistics system

As South Africa marks Transport Month this October, supply chain industry body, South African Production and Inventory Control Society (SAPICS) has warned that infrastructure alone will not solve the country’s deepening logistics crisis — calling instead for urgent collaboration, skills development and targeted support for small transport businesses.

According to SAPICS, the state of the country’s transport network is directly linked to economic performance — and the current picture is bleak. “Port delays, rail disruptions and infrastructure inefficiencies are costing the economy a reported R1 billion a day in lost trade,” the organisation said. “We have a disproportionate number of truck accidents contributing to our high road death toll. SMMEs in the transport sector have a crucial role to play in the economy, but they are not adequately supported.”

The organisation argues that focusing solely on infrastructure upgrades without building human capacity will fail. “The path to a stable, safe, inclusive, future-fit logistics system lies in cross-sector collaboration and investment in human capital — from skilled drivers and operators to highly qualified transport managers and supply chain professionals,” SAPICS stated. “Infrastructure alone won’t fix this crisis.”

Slow progress despite reform efforts

The warning follows discussions at the 47th annual SAPICS Conference in Cape Town, where over 700 supply chain professionals from Africa and beyond gathered. A panel moderated by South African Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF) CEO Dr Juanita Maree highlighted the slow pace of progress in stabilising logistics.

Operation Vulindlela rail adviser Jaap van der Merwe and Presidency project office director Khule Duma were among the panellists who agreed that while some stabilisation has occurred, recovery remains fragmented. “We may not have turned the corner yet,” SAPICS noted, “but dialogue like this is essential to rebuild trust, align efforts and drive real change.”

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“The supply chain is only as strong as its people”

SAPICS has emphasised that skills development is central to solving the logistics crisis. “The supply chain is only as strong as the people who run it,” the organisation said. “From warehouse teams to logistics planners and fleet managers, we need qualified professionals who understand the complexity of modern supply chains.”

To address the skills gap, SAPICS supports education initiatives at universities and offers globally recognised qualifications like the APICS Certified in Logistics, Transportation and Distribution (CLTD). It also delivers training through a network of authorised partners focused on transport and logistics.

Jonathan Mphake, a SAPICS director and supply chain expert, argued that better training can also help reduce the country’s high truck-related fatality rate. “It’s not just about compliance,” he said. “Skilled fleet managers and route planners can enhance safety by using real-time route planning and driver monitoring, rigorous maintenance, driver wellness programmes, and data analytics to address unsafe behaviour. Drivers themselves need specialised training to handle road hazards, rest requirements and work pressures.”

Small operators still being “left behind”

SMMEs — which SAPICS calls “vital to the economy” — remain one of the sector’s biggest untapped opportunities. “SMMEs are being left behind,” the organisation said. “They’re overburdened and under-resourced, and many don’t realise that supply chain strategy can be the key to growth or even survival.”

Through its SMME Development Programme, SAPICS provides training, case studies, webinars and a support line for small business owners. It also connects corporates with opportunities to sponsor SMME development and earn enterprise and supplier development (ESD) points.

As Transport Month prompts reflection on the future of South Africa’s logistics sector, SAPICS’s message is clear: the country needs more than new roads and rail upgrades — it needs people with the skills, tools and collaborative mindset to make the system work. “We need a collaborative, education-driven, action-focused approach,” the organisation concluded. “That’s the only way to build the resilient, inclusive logistics system South Africa urgently needs.”