The Road Freight Association (RFA) concluded its 2026 Convention with a clear message: South Africa must shift gears with urgency, discipline and partnership to protect the road freight sector, strengthen national logistics performance and support economic growth.

The Convention, which took place from 29 to 31 May at The Capital Zimbali Hotel in KwaZulu Natal under the theme “Shifting Gears”, included a Golf Day Challenge, a FIFA Fan Zone welcome function, a conference programme with expert speaker presentations, panel discussions and quizzes, a spouses programme and a Masquerade Ball gala dinner.

Road freight remains central to South Africa’s economy

RFA Chairperson Penwell Lunga provided the welcome address, noting that diesel prices had risen by more than 60% this year. “With diesel accounting for more than 40% of operating costs for many operators, the current cost environment has become unsustainable and unlike anything the industry has experienced before,” he said.

On a more positive note, RFA CEO Gavin Kelly highlighted some of the achievements made by the RFA in 2025. “We strengthened the Association, grew membership by 14 percent, maintained another year of labour peace, hosted well-attended industry engagements and kept the RFA on a sound financial footing.”

Despite these successes, Kelly placed challenging operating realities at the centre of the Convention. “As an industry, we faced serious pressure regarding undocumented foreign drivers, port queues, terminal congestion, rail performance decline, increased crime,  shrinking margins – and much more besides. These challenges require active participation from every member, stronger compliance, better data, smarter technology and practical collaboration across the sector.”

Kelly also identified risks from employment equity implementation, B-BBEE uncertainty, violent protests, crime, labour militancy and fleet immobilisation. He drew attention to the opportunities that lie in AfCFTA growth, freight cities, private port and rail participation and improved operator compliance.

Deputy Minister of Transport, Mkhuleko Hlengwa, delivered the keynote address during which he reinforced the government's commitment to a sustainable, compliant and integrated freight sector.

“An efficient and functioning transport sector that moves people and goods safely, speedily and affordably across the length and breadth of our country is the key to a successful economy,” he stated. He added that government would continue to support rail reforms, road maintenance, port efficiency, border improvements, overload control, truck stop infrastructure, driver wellness and corridor security. The Deputy Minister also stressed the importance of industry partnerships. “Policy alone will not deliver reform. Partnership with industry and labour is essential,” he stressed.

Speakers set out the next gear for the industry

Simphiwe Letlojane, Head of Security Investments at Absa, assessed the economic forces currently shaping road transport. His presentation linked freight performance to geopolitics, oil prices, inflation, interest rates, economic growth, Transnet reform and infrastructure investment. “Transnet has improved its performance,” he noted, while emphasising that logistics, ports and railways are improving local indicators. His outlook positioned transport as central to South Africa’s investment case, trade performance and economic recovery prospects.

Political Analyst Justice Malala gave a political and geopolitical risk briefing. Malala examined the GNU, ANC internal dynamics, immigration protests, the 2026 local government elections, the rise of new political forces and South Africa’s relationship with the United States. Using the flags framework, he assessed global conflict, climate change, ageing populations, religious tension and artificial intelligence. “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes,” he said during a message that urged business to prepare for volatility, protect institutions and plan for political uncertainty with discipline and foresight.

Liesl de Wet, Chairperson of the RFA Green Transport Working Group, focused on sustainable and smarter transport businesses. Her presentation framed sustainability as a resilience issue. De Wet warned that fuel volatility, geopolitical instability, climate risk, ESG pressure, customer expectations and technology change now shape fleet decisions. “You can’t manage what you don’t measure,” she said while urging operators to improve measurement and operational efficiency through telematics, smarter route planning, improved driver behaviour, predictive maintenance, efficient loading and alternative fuel readiness.

Magretia Brown-Engelbrecht, director at the ADR Hub, addressed wage negotiations in the road freight and logistics industry. Her presentation revealed that collective bargaining had entered a delicate phase as operators face narrow margins, fuel volatility, regulatory change, labour pressure and foreign driver tensions. She called for a modernised system built around multi-year agreements, inflation and fuel triggers, sector flexibility and representivity-based negotiation. “Collective bargaining is evolving, and so must we,” she said, before urging employers to prepare properly, recognise pressure on both sides and negotiate with purpose.

Brown-Engelbrecht also moderated the first of two panel discussions, which included insights from Lazarus Bereda, Executive at RCL Foods, Carl Webb from Project Logistics and Steve Cornelius, Senior Consultant at Olea. Legal Expert and Professor Hugo Pienaar moderated the second panel, which featured contributions from Ryan Kruger, MD of Britannia and Prayleen Bailey, Owner of Krosworx Trading.

The RFA closed the Convention by calling on members to stay connected, informed and involved. It thanked the sponsors — Trucking Wellness, Sunrise Logistics, GTS, Biddulphs, Total Energies, PowerFleet, MAN Truck & Bus South Africa, Maha, iCAM, Fuel Insights, Engen, Daimler Truck Southern Africa, Ziegler, Aon, blueSky Adblue, Shell, WebFleet, iWantFuel, Astron energy, Absa and Castrol —  as well as members and industry partners whose support helped make the Convention a resounding success.