Edited by Eamonn Ryan, supplied by SAPIC
For the cold chain, every improvement in transport infrastructure, border efficiency and supply chain collaboration translates directly into fresher food, reduced waste and more reliable delivery of temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals.
Supplied by SAPICS
As Africa’s cold chain expands, the ability of supply chain professionals to work together across sectors is becoming just as important as investments in refrigeration and storage technology.
These themes dominated the 48th annual SAPICS Conference, held in Cape Town from 19–22 July 2026, where 600 supply chain professionals from across Africa and beyond gathered to exchange knowledge, discuss emerging challenges and explore new opportunities for strengthening supply chains across the continent.
The conference was particularly significant as SAPICS celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2026. Against a backdrop of global disruption, infrastructure constraints, energy and water instability, and growing geopolitical uncertainty, delegates focused on practical strategies to build more resilient, efficient and connected supply chains.
Held at the Century City Conference Centre, the event featured local and international experts, thought leaders and practitioners covering topics ranging from artificial intelligence, warehouse transformation and robotics to healthcare logistics, inventory optimisation, sustainability and quick commerce.
Why infrastructure matters to the cold chain
One of the strongest messages emerging from the conference was that efficient logistics infrastructure remains the foundation of successful supply chains. For cold chain operators, delays at ports, rail bottlenecks and unreliable transport networks can mean higher operating costs, reduced product quality and increased spoilage.
Opening the conference, Transnet group chief executive Michelle Phillips outlined the state-owned company’s ongoing recovery programme, describing progress across its operating divisions and reaffirming Transnet’s role in enabling the movement of goods throughout South Africa and into regional markets.
Phillips stressed that strengthening local manufacturing would not only reduce costs but also improve supply chain resilience while supporting employment creation. She also addressed governance challenges, acknowledging previous corruption involving elements of Transnet’s supply chain operations and emphasising the organisation’s commitment to ethical business practices.
Her presentation highlighted the reality that restoring confidence in logistics infrastructure is essential for every sector that depends on predictable product movement, including agriculture, food processing and pharmaceutical distribution.
Building connected African markets
The conference’s second keynote speaker, Demitta Gyang, director of customs administration at the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, focused on reducing barriers to trade across Africa.
Improving customs processes and facilitating cross-border trade are particularly important for temperature-controlled products, where unnecessary delays at borders can shorten shelf life and increase refrigeration costs.
Welcoming delegates, SAPICS President Thato Moloi highlighted the significance of both keynote presentations, thanking Transnet for its support as Diamond Sponsor and recognising the important role the organisation plays in keeping South Africa’s economy moving. Reflecting on Gyang’s presentation, Moloi said it served as “an important reminder of the enormous opportunity to build more connected African markets and make trade across our continent easier and more competitive.”
He also reflected on SAPICS’s 60-year journey of advancing supply chain management across Africa. “This year’s hugely successful 48th Annual Conference was a fitting way to celebrate SAPICS’s 60th anniversary because it reflected everything the organisation stands for,” Moloi said.
“SAPICS is the community and the voice of supply chain professionals across the continent, and our goal is to connect people and enable critical conversations that drive collaboration and knowledge sharing. The conference brought together like-minded people from across sectors and across Africa, all united by a shared belief in the power of supply chains and a commitment to investing in the growth and professionalism of our industry.”
For cold chain operators, the message was clear: future competitiveness will depend not only on better refrigeration technologies but also on stronger regional cooperation, more reliable logistics networks and the sharing of expertise across the supply chain ecosystem.
Source: Supplied by SAPICS