The South African Freight and Logistics Association (SAFLA) and the Association of Meat Importers and Exporters of South Africa (AMIE SA) have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) to deepen collaboration on the logistics, port-operational and regulatory issues affecting South Africa’s meat trade.

SAFLA and AMIE SA will use the MoC to identify recurring constraints, exchange evidence and develop practical, solutions-focused proposals for engagement with government agencies and stakeholders. The partnership will support constructive dialogue on port operations, border processes, veterinary and sanitary requirements, market access, rail and road connectivity, and supply-chain resilience.

A United Voice to Find Practical Solutions

“Logistics is fundamental to food security, trade competitiveness and economic growth,” says Jonathan McDonald, Vice Chairman of SAFLA. “This MoC gives SAFLA and AMIE SA a stronger platform to speak with one informed voice, engage constructively with government agencies and work with them to resolve issues that affect cargo flow, costs and reliability. We are most effective when industry brings evidence, expertise and practical solutions to the table.”

Paul Matthew, CEO of AMIE SA, adds that improved collaboration between industry and government is essential if South Africa is to turn trade opportunities into measurable growth. “We have the product, the capability and markets that are ready to buy South African meat,” Matthew notes. “What is required is effective coordination: clear communication between national and provincial authorities, efficient certification and inspection processes, and a willingness to bring the private sector into the solution.”

For meat exporters, the ability to supply international customers consistently is crucial. Delays in market-access processes and veterinary approvals can cause buyers to source from alternative suppliers. Animal-health events remain a trade risk, underlining the importance of robust traceability, credible controls and internationally accepted approaches to regionalisation.

Matthew highlights that trade is not a zero-sum choice between exports and domestic affordability. “Export markets enable producers to obtain value for different cuts across the carcass. That improves overall carcass balance and can support a more sustainable, affordable domestic supply,” he says.

The MoC recognises that food safety and regulatory compliance are non-negotiable. Its purpose is to support processes that are rigorous, proportionate and consistently applied, while ensuring that avoidable administrative bottlenecks do not undermine trade, jobs or consumer access to protein.

AMIE SA estimates that South Africa exported approximately 81,000 tonnes of red meat, including beef, sheep and goat meat, worth around R63 billion between 2025 and May 2026, demonstrating the significant economic potential of the sector even amid disease-related and administrative constraints.

The freight-forwarding sector that enables this trade is itself substantial, with South Africa’s freight-forwarding market estimated to have generated approximately R81 billion in revenue in 2025. Freight forwarders also coordinate more than 80% of the country’s international trade, reinforcing the strategic importance of efficient, reliable logistics systems.

Room for Further Improvement

“Meat trade depends on logistics, predictable inspection and cargo-release processes, veterinary controls, and reliable access to international markets,” continues McDonald. “When these systems do not operate in concert, the consequences are felt by producers, importers, exporters, cold stores, transporters, processors, retailers and consumers.”

While there have been encouraging improvements in infrastructure and equipment in the Durban port, industry continues to confront operational pressure points, including cold-chain capacity, container handling, inspection coordination and release of consignments.

“Through industry engagement, communication and joint advocacy, SAFLA and AMIE SA intend to help convert recurring challenges into coordinated action,” concludes McDonald. “The associations believe that a unified industry voice, combined with respectful partnership with government, can improve the country’s logistics ecosystem, strengthen national supply-chain performance and support a competitive, resilient South African meat sector.”

Jonathan McDonald – Vice Chair of SAFLA, with Paul Matthew, CEO of AMIE SA

Jonathan McDonald – Vice Chair of SAFLA, with Paul Matthew, CEO of AMIE SA

A shipment arriving in South Africa rarely reaches its destination using just one form of transport. A container might arrive by ship, travel inland by rail and complete the final leg of its journey by road before reaching a warehouse or distribution centre. It’s a process most businesses rely on without giving it much thought, but it has a name: intermodal transport.

As supply chains become more complex, moving goods efficiently is no longer about choosing one mode of transport over another. It’s about understanding how road, rail, sea and air can work together. For South Africa, where freight often travels hundreds of kilometres between ports, cities and distribution hubs, that approach is becoming increasingly important.

One Journey, Multiple Modes of Transport

Intermodal transport refers to moving goods using two or more modes of transport during a single journey, while the cargo remains in the same container or trailer. Instead of unpacking and repacking products at every stage, the container itself is transferred between ships, trains and trucks until it reaches its final destination.

The approach combines the strengths of each transport mode. Sea freight is well suited to international shipping, rail can move large volumes over long distances and road transport provides the flexibility needed to collect and deliver goods almost anywhere in the country.

Why it Matters in South Africa

South Africa’s freight network stretches across thousands of kilometres, connecting ports, industrial centres, warehouses and retail hubs. Imported goods arriving in Durban or Cape Town often need to reach businesses in Gauteng, while agricultural exports from inland provinces make the journey in the opposite direction before leaving the country.

No single mode of transport can efficiently handle every stage of those journeys. Intermodal transport allows logistics providers to use each network where it performs best, creating a more connected and efficient supply chain.

Building More Efficient Supply Chains

Moving freight across South Africa rarely goes exactly to plan. Delays at a port, road closures or disruptions on the rail network can quickly affect the rest of the journey, forcing logistics providers to rethink how goods reach their destination.

Using different modes of transport gives businesses more options when those challenges arise. Instead of relying on a single route, they can adapt their transport plans and keep freight moving with as little disruption as possible.

Connecting Transport Through Technology

Keeping freight moving across several transport networks depends on good communication. Warehouse teams, transport operators and customers all need to know where shipments are and when they’re expected to arrive.

Digital tracking, transport management systems and electronic documentation have made that much easier. With better visibility across the journey, businesses can respond more quickly to delays, keep customers informed and make day-to-day transport planning far more straightforward.

Looking Beyond a Single Mode of Transport

The most efficient supply chains don’t rely on just one way of moving goods. Road, rail, sea and air each solve different transport challenges, and together they create a stronger, more connected logistics network.

As South Africa’s transport infrastructure continues to evolve, businesses are looking beyond individual transport modes and focusing on how they work together. Choosing the right combination often makes a bigger difference than choosing the fastest route alone.

The aviation industry has always had to deal with the unexpected. A change in the weather, a delayed shipment or an aircraft requiring unscheduled maintenance can quickly affect everything that follows. Keeping flights on schedule isn’t just about what happens in the air – it’s about how well the entire operation responds when things don’t go according to plan.

That ability to adapt has become increasingly important in South Africa. As passenger travel grows, air cargo becomes more important to trade and technology continues to reshape the industry, resilience is no longer something that’s only tested during major disruptions. It’s built into the way airports, airlines and logistics providers operate every day.

Building Stronger Airports Starts Behind the Scenes

Most passengers judge an airport by how quickly they check in or collect their luggage. Behind those experiences is a much larger operation that’s constantly working to keep aircraft, baggage and freight moving.

Cargo terminals, maintenance facilities, customs teams and ground handling crews all have a role to play. When these parts of the airport work well together, flights run more smoothly, freight moves more efficiently and delays become easier to manage. That’s why investment isn’t only about expanding airports – it’s also about improving how the entire operation works.

People Keep the Industry Moving

Every flight depends on hundreds of decisions being made before an aircraft even leaves the ground. Pilots, engineers, technicians, air traffic controllers and ground crews each bring skills that technology simply can’t replace.

Digital systems have made many tasks faster and more accurate, but aviation will always rely on experienced people who know how to respond when something changes. Continuing to develop those skills will be just as important as investing in new aircraft or airport infrastructure.

Air Cargo is More Than Freight

When people think about aviation, passenger travel usually comes to mind first. Yet every day, aircraft also carry products that businesses and communities rely on, from medical supplies and fresh produce to high-value manufacturing components.

Getting those goods to their destination takes careful coordination. Airports, warehouses, road transport and customs operations all need to work together to keep shipments moving. The better those connections become, the easier it is for businesses to respond to changing demand and keep their supply chains running.

Better Decisions Begin with Better Information

Anyone working in aviation knows that small delays rarely stay small for long. A late arrival, poor weather or a hold-up in cargo handling can affect aircraft, crews and connecting shipments throughout the day.

Having the right information at the right time makes those situations much easier to manage. Real-time tracking, predictive maintenance and operational data give airlines and airports a clearer picture of what’s happening, allowing them to respond before minor disruptions become much bigger problems.

An Industry That Works Best Together

No airline, airport or logistics provider operates on its own. Every successful journey depends on organisations sharing information, coordinating their operations and working towards the same outcome.

Those partnerships have become one of the industry’s greatest strengths. When communication is strong and planning is aligned, it’s far easier to keep passengers moving, cargo flowing and operations running, even when unexpected challenges arise.

No two days in aviation are ever the same, and that’s unlikely to change. New technology, shifting demand and changing trade patterns will continue to reshape the industry, but one thing remains constant: the ability to adapt. The organisations that keep investing in people, infrastructure and stronger partnerships will be the ones that help South Africa’s aviation industry continue moving forward.