Smarter infrastructure, better connected transport systems and airport experiences that reflect African creativity were at the centre of Runway to Railway: Project Maverick, held at the Vineyard Hotel in Cape Town on 22 October 2026. The gathering brought aviation, technology and creative perspectives into a discussion about how innovation can improve infrastructure and the experience of the people who use it.

Held under the theme Simply Connect Africa, the event forms part of the Runway to Railway vision conceived by Anna K Hecart, founder and director of Connected Group. The platform brings different sectors together to explore connections between infrastructure, business and opportunity across the continent.

Raising the Bar for African Infrastructure. Panel participants: Dirk Ackerman, moderator; Nicholas Ferguson, Executive Managing Director, RSA Aero; Hasnain Motlekar, Acting Chief Executive Officer, BCX; and York Ning, Director, ICT Marketing & Solution Sales Department, Huawei South Africa.

“Runway to Railway began with a belief that Africa’s progress depends on the connections we make between people, industries and ideas,” said Hecart. “We are pleased to announce the Runway to Railway Expo for November 2027. Our ambition is to bring the people shaping transport, infrastructure and technology together with investors and creative businesses to explore practical solutions and build partnerships that move Africa forward.”

The Expo is being developed as a meeting place for aviation, rail, logistics, infrastructure, technology, tourism and design professionals, alongside investors and public-sector stakeholders. Partners can expect opportunities to showcase their capabilities and connect with potential collaborators. Attendees can look forward to discovering innovations, exchanging ideas and exploring how better connected infrastructure can support African business and communities.

Anna K Hecart, Founder and Director of Connected Group and visionary behind Runway to Railway, addresses the gathering.

The infrastructure conversation brought the airport development perspective together with the technology expertise of BCX and Huawei. It considered how closer collaboration can support better passenger experiences, reliable operations and the practical delivery of connected infrastructure.

“The decisions that shape a passenger’s journey are made across many different organisations,” said Ackerman. “Bringing developers, operators and technology partners together early helps us see how those decisions fit together and where collaboration can make infrastructure work better.”

“An airport is part of a much wider economic network,” said Ferguson. “Its development needs to consider how people arrive, how businesses connect and how the surrounding region benefits. Innovation should support that wider purpose while making the everyday experience more efficient and welcoming.”

“The value of connected infrastructure lies in what it enables people and businesses to do,” said Motlekar. “Reliable networks, secure systems and useful information need to work together. Planning these capabilities from the outset helps organisations improve services and respond as demand changes.”

Gavin Rajah delivered the closing remarks, extending the conversation to the quality and character of retail experiences at African airports. He highlighted the opportunity to bring greater creativity and a stronger expression of African identity into spaces that shape travellers’ first and last impressions of a destination.

“An African airport should give travellers a real sense of place,” said Rajah. “Our retail spaces can do far more to showcase the continent’s design, fashion, food and craft. We have the talent and the stories. The opportunity is to present them with imagination and the quality they deserve, while creating space for African creative businesses to grow.”

Gavin Rajah, closing speaker, addresses creativity and African identity in the airport experience.

Event photographs

The Raising the Bar for African Infrastructure panel at Runway to Railway: Project Maverick.

An exchange during the infrastructure panel discussion.

A panellist contributes to the infrastructure discussion.

An on-stage presentation during Runway to Railway: Project Maverick.

Guests exchange ideas during the luncheon at the Vineyard Hotel.

Guests follow the programme at Runway to Railway: Project Maverick.

Guests seated during the event programme.

A guest listens during the luncheon.

Guests in conversation during the event.

Networking at Runway to Railway: Project Maverick.

Guests gather for a photograph at the Vineyard Hotel.

Guests connect outside the event venue.

Conversations continue between programme sessions.

A conversation during the event reception.

A conversation at Runway to Railway: Project Maverick.

*All photographs featured in this article were captured by: Elvis Nyelenzi

Second-year sponsorship comes as the platform reaches 2 million TikTok views and expands its influence among South Africa’s road freight SMMEs

FNB and WesBank have renewed their sponsorship of the On The Road Podcast for a second consecutive year, backing the continued growth of one of South Africa’s most distinctive platforms dedicated to the road freight and transport SMME sector.

Hosted by Florence Musundwa, Convenor of the Road Freight SME Summit, On The Road has grown from a specialist industry podcast into a platform giving voice to the entrepreneurs, fleet owners, drivers and businesses that keep South Africa’s freight economy moving.

Florence Musundwa

The sponsorship renewal comes as the podcast reaches a significant new audience milestone, with more than 7,100 YouTube subscribers, past 300,000 YouTube views, more than 30,000 TikTok followers and 2 million TikTok views.

When the podcast entered its first sponsored year, it had approximately 800 YouTube subscribers and 2,700 TikTok followers.

The latest figures demonstrate not only audience growth, but a growing appetite for industry specific conversations that speak directly to the realities of running a transport business in South Africa and across the region.

In the 28 days to 5 October 2026, the YouTube channel recorded more than 18,500 views and approximately 1,600 hours of watch time, with nearly 58% of viewers not yet subscribed to the channel, indicating that On The Road continues to attract new audiences beyond its established community.

A Platform for the People Behind the Freight Economy

“Road freight is fundamental to the movement of goods across South Africa and the wider Southern African region, yet the experiences of the small and emerging operators who form an important part of the industry are often absent from mainstream business conversations,” explains Musundwa. “On The Road was created to change that.”

The podcast provides a platform where transport entrepreneurs can have candid conversations about cash flow, pricing, access to finance, fuel costs, fleet management, procurement, market access, regulation, cross border opportunities and the realities of building a sustainable transport business.

Its audience includes truck owners, drivers, fleet managers and other stakeholders across the road freight ecosystem. Approximately 65% of YouTube viewers are based in South Africa, with audiences also watching from Botswana, Zambia, Namibia and Kenya.

Why FNB and Wesbank are Returning

The renewal reflects a strong strategic alignment between the issues explored on On The Road and the financial and operational realities facing transport businesses.

Transport operators operate in an environment where fuel costs, fleet costs, working capital and effective fleet management can directly determine profitability and business sustainability.

FNB Fleet Services, offered and serviced by WesBank, provides solutions designed to help operators manage these pressures, including the Auto Card, which enables secure payment for fuel, oil, tolls, repairs and maintenance, as well as Fleet Online, which provides fleet owners with information to manage and monitor fleet costs.

The decision to continue the partnership reflects the value of meeting transport entrepreneurs where they are: in an environment where practical information, access to the right financial tools and informed conversations can make a material difference to business outcomes.

From Industry Challenges to Industry Opportunities

One of the defining characteristics of On The Road is its willingness to tackle difficult conversations rather than simply celebrate success stories.

Through its flagship The Reality series, the podcast has explored issues including:

• Rising fuel prices and their impact on transporters
• Cash flow, pricing and financing in trucking businesses
• Fleet management and profitability
• Procurement, public procurement reform and corruption
• The rule of law in road freight and illegal truck drivers
• Cross-border trade between South Africa and Botswana
• Rail reform and its implications for road freight
• Last mile delivery and opportunities for small courier businesses

Guests have included Gavin Kelly (The Road Freight Association), Lebo Letsoalo (African Women in Supply Chain Association and Sincpoint), Gary Marshall (SA Express Parcel Association (SAEPA), Kamogelo Mampane (Supply Chain Council SA), Jonathan Mphake, Joshua Kadish, Mesela Nhlapo (Africa Rail Industries Association), Rogers Rasetapa and Khaya Mahlangu, Oliver Naidoo (JA Auditors), Thabo Moodie (Oricred), Reneiloe Semenya (Maysene Logistics), Malesela Tloana (Alter Clique Energy) and Tshepo Mokoa (Brima Investments), alongside transport business owners who have shared candid stories of setbacks, resilience and recovery.

Building a Stronger SMME Voice in Road Freight

For Musundwa, the growth of On The Road demonstrates the need for platforms that do more than report on the transport sector. “I started On The Road because the people who keep this country moving needed a platform where they could have honest conversations about what it really takes to build and run a transport business. The response has shown us that the industry was waiting for this conversation.”

“For me, the significance of FNB and WesBank returning for a second year goes beyond sponsorship. It demonstrates that there is value in investing in platforms that understand the lived realities of entrepreneurs and create access to information, ideas and conversations that can help businesses grow.”

Musundwa believes the future of industry engagement will increasingly be shaped by platforms that allow audiences to access depth, expertise and authentic conversations on demand.

“Podcasts are becoming an important way for industries to talk to themselves. They allow people to hear from the people doing the work, understand different perspectives and access conversations when and where it suits them. We are building On The Road to become a platform that not only reflects the industry, but contributes to how the industry thinks about its future.”

Looking Ahead

The renewed partnership comes as On The Road enters its next phase of growth, with the platform continuing to expand its content across YouTube and TikTok and deepen its focus on the issues affecting transport entrepreneurs.

The ambition is clear: to build a platform that connects industry knowledge, entrepreneurial experience, financial education and market opportunity while creating a stronger and more informed voice for road freight SMMEs.

New episodes of On The Road Podcast are available on YouTube and TikTok.

Transport reform, regional trade, safer freight corridors and workforce development will take centre stage at the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe Regional Conference at Automechanika Johannesburg on 28 and 29 October 2026.

Taking place at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, the conference will explore the theme “Driving Innovation: Bridging Borders for an African Future”. Its programme brings together perspectives from government, industry, professional bodies and education to examine the transport, logistics and supply chain challenges shaping regional connectivity.

With Tiro Rapoo of NEXT Gen – an interest group of CILT – as programme director, the discussions will focus on how infrastructure, regulation, technology and skills can support a more connected African transport landscape, with an emphasis on practical regional challenges. Four panels will address transport corridors, cross-border harmonisation, safety and security, and education and training.

Tiro Rapoo of NEXT Gen

“By focusing on critical corridors, standardisation, safety, and future-ready skills, the programme is structured to deliver actionable solutions that help move goods and people across our borders more efficiently and securely,” says Elvin Harris, President of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport South Africa (CILTSA).

Elvin Harris, President of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport South Africa (CILTSA).

Connecting Corridors and Aligning Systems

Lwazi Mboyi, CEO of the Cross-Border Road Transport Agency (C-BRTA), will address enabling cross-border road transport in Africa. Aneeqah Meyer, Manager at Ernst & Young Advisory Services, will examine economic integration, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the future of African trade.

Lwazi Mboyi, CEO of the Cross-Border Road Transport Agency (C-BRTA)

Aneeqah Meyer, Manager at Ernst & Young Advisory Services

The transport corridors panel will feature Crynos Mutendera, Senior Research Specialist at C-BRTA and Lebo Letsoalo, founder of the African Women in Supply Chain Association (AWISCA) and Sincpoint. Discussions will cover strategic road and rail corridors, reducing border delays and non-tariff barriers, and lessons from one-stop border posts. Infrastructure financing, the contribution of dry ports and inland terminals, and links between corridor development and regional industrialisation will also feature.

Crynos Mutendera, Senior Research Specialist at C-BRTA

Lebo Letsoalo, founder of the African Women in Supply Chain Association (AWISCA)

The harmonisation panel will include Jonathan McDonald, Vice Chairman of the SA Freight and Logistics Association (SAFLA), and Prisca Mayumbelo CMILT, Chairperson of CILT Namibia and a transport and urban mobility specialist. Topics include vehicle standards, customs documentation, trade facilitation systems and mutual recognition of licences, permits and professional qualifications.

Prisca Mayumbelo CMILT

“By uniting Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe at Automechanika Johannesburg, we are turning policy aspirations into operational realities that will accelerate trade efficiency along our shared economic corridors,” states Mayumbelo.

Safer Operations and a Future-Ready Workforce

Day two will bring a regional perspective from Dr Tapiwa Mujakachi, President of CILT Zimbabwe, followed by a keynote on generative engine optimisation from Francois Vorster, Chief Disruptor at IMS.

Dr Tapiwa Mujakachi, President of CILT Zimbabwe

Dr Mujakachi emphasises the collective purpose driving regional collaboration. “This three-way partnership demonstrates that our logistical challenges and economic destinies are deeply interconnected. Bringing our institutions and practitioners together allows us to co-create practical solutions that lower the cost of doing business and build corridor resilience for our shared future.”

The safety and security panel will include Gavin Kelly, CEO of the Road Freight Association (RFA) and Gerhard van Zyl, Group Operations Director at Professional Risk and Asset Management.

Gavin Kelly, CEO of the Road Freight Association (RFA)

Gerhard van Zyl, Group Operations Director at Professional Risk and Asset Management.

The education, training and skills panel will feature Maphefo Ano Frempong, CEO of the Transport Education Training Authority (TETA); Anton Fiets, Executive: Industry Development at the Automotive Industry Development Centre (AIDC); Professor Chengedzai Mafini, Executive Dean at Vaal University of Technology; Ronald Mlalazi, CEO of Commerce Edge; and Sandile Khoza, CEO of COSA Holdings and CILTSA Council member.

Sandile Khoza, CEO of COSA Holdings and CILTSA Council member

Professor Chengedzai Mafini, Executive Dean at Vaal University of Technology

Ronald Mlalazi, CEO of Commerce Edge

Formal sessions will be followed by lunch and dedicated opportunities to visit the Automechanika exhibition and network with exhibitors.

For more information about the conference or to register, visit: https://www.ciltsa.events/cilt-conference-at-automechanika-johannesburg/