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By Thapelo Molefe
Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises dominate South Africa’s transport forwarding and clearing subsector, accounting for over 98% of the 674 registered companies.
However, despite this overwhelming presence, these businesses face critical barriers to growth due to skills shortages, infrastructure inefficiencies and a rapidly evolving technological landscape, according to Kgatile Nkala, who is the executive manager for corporate services at the Transport Education Training Authority.
Nkala was speaking at the Inaugural Forwarding and Clearing Summit in Ekurhuleni on Wednesday.
“These businesses form the backbone of our trade logistics sector, yet many lack access to the training and development resources required to keep pace with global standards,” she said.
“We must ensure that SMMEs and informal operators are not left behind in the skills revolution.”
Nkala said that the subsector was responsible for facilitating 90% of South Africa’s international trade, making it a critical component of the national economy.
However, inefficiencies such as port congestion, delays at border posts and deteriorating infrastructure were hampering the sector’s ability to operate efficiently.
She added that rising cybersecurity threats and the push toward digital transformation were reshaping the nature of logistics work.
“There is an urgent need for professionals with skills in data analysis, AI and cybersecurity,” Nkala noted.
“The rise of e-commerce and just-in-time delivery models demands a digitally savvy and adaptable workforce.”
TETA data presented at the summit painted a broader picture of a transport sector in transition.
South Africa’s transport industry currently employs more than 1.13 million people. However, 80% of those workers are men, with only 19.7% being women.
Nkala said that promoting gender equity in transport was both a moral and strategic imperative.
“Women bring unique leadership styles and perspectives that can drive innovation and improve decision making,” she said.
“It’s time to actively support mentorship, skills development and inclusive hiring practices.”
In addition to calling for gender inclusion, Nkala warned of the sector’s hard-to-fill vacancies and misaligned qualifications.
She urged academic institutions and training authorities to redesign curricula that were relevant and responsive to the changing needs of the logistics industry.
“The Fourth Industrial Revolution has disrupted traditional models of operation,” she said. “If we do not act now to reskill and upskill, we risk becoming globally uncompetitive.”
The summit also shed light on the provincial distribution of forwarding and clearing firms, with over 50% based in Gauteng, followed by KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape.
Despite their economic importance, many of these firms are not contributing to levy-based training systems or submitting Workplace Skills Plans, further complicating the effort to design targeted interventions.
“TETA cannot transform this industry alone. We need business to co-invest in training, government to streamline infrastructure delivery and academia to reform qualification standards,” Nkala said.
“We must co-create a logistics sector that is inclusive, future-ready and globally competitive.”
The freight forwarding and customs clearing subsector involves the movement of goods on behalf of importers and exporters. It ensures compliance with import/export regulations and facilitates international trade.
Video by: Katlego Tshekoesele
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