Freight Handling Chamber

Freight handling is an integral part of the supply chain management system and provides vital support services to industries, which span all modes of transport. People involved in freight handling play a key role in the movement of goods since they represent the physical link that ensures that the freight is efficiently and safely handled.

The key areas of specialisation identified within the Freight Handling Industry are as follows:

• Warehousing and Distribution
• Port Operations
• Stevedoring
• Courier Operations
• Bulk Handling
• Airfreight
• Forwarding and Clearing

The Freight Handling subsector represents the following Standard Industry Codes (SIC) represented by TETA

• 71300 Transport Via Pipelines
• 74110 Cargo Handling
• 74120 Storage & Warehousing

The Freight Handling subsector is the second biggest employer in the Transport sector employing 16,9% of the sector’s work force

Achievements

• Increased participation of large and medium sized levy-paying enterprises in skills development;
• Increased rural development initiatives through various training interventions;
• Supported and funded learning interventions targeting 200 disabled unemployed individuals in rural areas;
• Supporting and funding training of 200 SMME’s on technical skills;
• Memoranda of Understanding signed with 5 TVET Colleges allowing for learners to receive workplace experience;
• Memorandum of Understanding signed with KZN Department of Transport for the development of artisans;
• Memorandum of Understanding signed with the John Dube Institute and Esayidi TVET College to provide formal skills development opportunities to motor car mechanics who did not possess formal qualifications;
• Memorandum of Understanding signed with Mfolozi TVET College to set up the college as a Maritime Centre of Excellence.

The Chamber Committee consists of stakeholders representing employer bodies and organised labour. The role of the Chamber committee is to recommend approval of the chamber Annual Performance Plan to the TETA Board and provide governance oversight responsibilities on behalf of the TETA Board. Below is a list of the Freight Handling Chamber Committee Members, the constituencies they represent and contact details:

• As a result of the fourth industrial revolution, the industry is undergoing rapid computerisation whilst employee computer literacy skills are lagging behind;
• The new amendments to the Labour Relations Act are proving to be a challenge to stevedoring companies who use casual labour for extra work that arises from time to time but is not consistent enough to justify permanent employment;
• Given South Africa’s demographics, the freight handling subsector has notable inequalities, linked to gender and disability;
• Being a capital-intensive sub-sector, it is very difficult for small businesses to enter the market;
• SMME participation in skills development remains a challenge;
• Given the Covid-19 lockdown

The Freight Handling Chamber’s main objective and function is the development and implementation of the Chamber’s Annual Performance Plan. The implementation of the skills plan is underpinned by the following strategic focus:

• Providing quality support and aligning delivery-mechanisms to the requirements of the subsector by monitoring execution of Education, Training and Development (ETD) activities in the subsector;
• Increasing female participation in the subsector;
• Increasing subsector-related skills development opportunities in rural areas on a national level;
• Encouraging the introduction of transport and logistics qualifications into TVET curricula.