By Eamonn Ryan
The Western Cape Government is prioritising the development of a globally competitive logistics ecosystem to stimulate economic growth and job creation in the province, Freight News reports.
Speaking at a recent South African Association of Freight Forwarders (Saaff) meeting, Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism MEC Ivan Meyer said the provincial government was committed to growing the sector. “Logistics is the lifeblood of trade and trade is the heartbeat of economic growth,” said Meyer, according to Freight News.
Meyer highlighted progress on a digital logistics planning platform for container freight through the Port of Cape Town, which aims to reduce delays and lower costs. He said the government recognised that any hold-up in the logistics ecosystem significantly drives up costs. “For this reason, we have adopted a zero-tolerance approach towards delays, whether in the container terminals or at any cargo transfer point. We appeal to all logistics agencies for their collaboration on this matter, including Saaff in the Western Cape,” said Meyer, Freight News reported.
He also commended Saaff for its leadership in freight forwarding and collaboration on the national logistics policy.
Investments improving port efficiency
Meyer pointed to improvements in port operations, noting that nine new rubber-tyred gantries (RTGs) will become operational next month, with ten additional RTGs expected by February to further enhance container-handling efficiency, said Freight News.
Reflecting on the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (Q3 2025), Meyer noted that the Western Cape had added 65 000 jobs year-on-year and 70 000 quarter-on-quarter. “Unemployment has dropped to 19.7%, far below the national rate of 31.9%. The Transport and Trade sectors added 37 000 and 34 000 jobs, respectively” said Meyer, according to Freight News.
He underlined the province’s Growth For Jobs Strategy, which aims to build a R1-trillion economy by 2035 with sustained annual growth of 4–6%. Strategic partnerships are central to achieving this vision. Recent achievements include R50-billion in investment commitments at the Western Cape Investment Summit and new market access to China for stone fruit exports, boosting shipping connectivity.
“The future belongs to those who build bridges, not barriers. In logistics, every efficient link is a bridge to prosperity,” said Meyer, Freight News reported.
Western Cape Provincial MEC of Mobility Isaac Sileku emphasised the critical role of logistics in economic growth. “When goods and services move efficiently, businesses grow, jobs are created, and communities prosper. Together with our partners in the freight and logistics sector, we are building a system that keeps the Western Cape and South Africa moving forward,” said Sileku, according to Freight News.
Reference: Freight News