The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport South Africa (CILTSA) has confirmed Dr Andile Sangqu, Chairperson of Transnet, as keynote speaker for its ESG Conference taking place on Tuesday, 23 June in Sandton, Johannesburg. 

Dr Sangqu will present “The ESG Greenprint in Action: Integrating Capital, Capability, and Commitment,” which will draw on his experience at the intersection of governance, infrastructure investment and sustainable transformation at scale. His participation adds weight to a programme designed to help logistics, transport and supply chain professionals move from ESG ambition to practical implementation.

Global Challenges and Local Solutions

According to the World Economic Forum, the global logistics sector accounts for approximately 11% of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions, and pressure from regulators, investors and consumers continues to intensify. 

Against this backdrop, the CILTSA ESG Conference offers a practical, solutions-focused programme shaped by leaders who understand the operational realities of the sector. Attendees will receive practical frameworks, financing insights and talent strategies to embed ESG principles across their organisations.

“This conference represents a defining step for our industry,” says Elvin Harris, President of CILTSA. “We have reached a point where ESG is a strategic business driver, and we are proud to bring together the voices, expertise and resources that will help South African logistics, transport and supply chain professionals lead that transformation with confidence and purpose.”

Practical Sessions for ESG Implementation

Directed by Ronald Muringai CMILT of the IMM, the programme features a strong line-up of industry practitioners and thought leaders.

An early session will explore how ESG principles can be integrated across a complex retail supply chain to drive resilience and growth. Celestin Ndhlovu - Vice President of Strategy, Business Planning and Marketing at Isuzu Motors South Africa, will examine the role of vehicle technology in the broader sustainability journey, with the shift to cleaner and more efficient transport solutions representing both an environmental priority and a commercial opportunity. Ctrack will add a fleet intelligence perspective, showing how data and technology can support more sustainable logistics operations.

Michelle van den Berg, Head of TDT Projects at Takealot Fulfilment Solutions, will share how one of South Africa’s leading e-commerce platforms is deploying electric vehicles and solar energy to build a scalable and sustainable last-mile logistics operation.

A dedicated funding panel will focus on one of the most pressing questions facing the sector: how to unlock the capital required to implement ESG programmes. Facilitated by Lauren Rota, Senior Director Sustainability SSA at DP World, the panel will bring together representatives from the Industrial Development Corporation, Absa (Bernard Vilakazi - Sector Specialist: Transport & Logistics), Nedbank (Sashen Singh - Senior Manager Sustainability | Strategy | Business and Commercial Banking) and the Development Bank of Southern Africa (Siloshini Naidoo – Head of Sustainability). The session will help demystify available financing instruments and provide guidance on how organisations can access funding for ESG-related projects.

Building the Capability to Deliver

The afternoon programme will shift to the people and capability required to deliver meaningful ESG progress. A talent-focused panel will be moderated by Liesl de Wet, Head of Organisational Sustainability at Unitrans and member of the RFA Green Transport Working Group.

She will be joined by Prof Rose Luke of the University of Johannesburg, TETA CEO Maphefo Ano-Frempong, Chantal Harding of People Shop, Aimee Girdwood of Stories Evolved, and Sandile Khoza, CILTSA Council member and Chairperson of the Ethekwini Maritime Cluster. Together, the panel will address the skills gap that threatens to slow ESG progress across the transport, logistics and supply chain sectors.

The conference will close with a timely case study on diversity, equity and inclusion as a competitive business metric, featuring Samuel Chakela, DEI Director at DSV Contract Logistics, and Nicci Scott Anderson, Founder of the SaferStops Association.