In the latest unemployment figures released for the three months between April and June this year, of the 140,000 people who lost their jobs, 15,000 were in the transport sector. The industry remains one of the top ten sectors measured for economic input by Statistics South Africa. But one of the few female leaders in the sector believes the ongoing job losses can indeed be reversed.

Former Presidency deputy director general (DDG) Matsietsi Mekoa, now executive chairperson of Brima Logistics, leads a team of women committed to transforming logistics into a sector that not only supports economic growth but also drives inclusive employment.

“The transport sector is capable of stopping the shedding of jobs in transport and also transforming ownership and management patterns that support women. That can be done through how the state policy supports the transport sector as a whole,” says Mekoa, who runs one of the biggest women-run logistics companies in the country.

Mekoa adds that for every truck, big or small, added to their company’s fleet, two jobs are created. While the sector has experienced losses in recent years—both locally and internationally—she believes there’s potential for recovery.

Brima Logistics is now exploring entry into air cargo, sea, and rail logistics. These plans mark a significant shift from the challenges the company faced during the Covid-19 pandemic, when it had to retrench 40% of its staff. The downturn also threatened a notable policy introduced seven years ago: allocating 10% of company ownership to employees.

At Brima’s headquarters in Boksburg, east of Johannesburg, employees reflect positively on the decision, noting that sharing profits has instilled a greater sense of ownership and responsibility among staff.

After rehiring many of the employees furloughed during the pandemic, Mekoa recalls the company’s humble beginnings in 2005, when she and her husband started with a single truck in their garage. Today, the business operates across all nine provinces with warehouse hubs in Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg.

Looking to the future, Mekoa sees opportunities on the continent where others see barriers.

“The trade disruptions brought on by rapid changes in trade policies globally also affect Africa. Regional integration of logistics systems is going to become all-important if African countries can work together. South Africa will lead the way in showing the rest of the continent how infrastructure challenges facing the African Continental Free Trade Area can be overcome. As the biggest and most industrialised economy in Africa, South Africa can also use free trade to counter trade policies that are meant to hurt the region,” said Mekoa, who is also a former acting CEO of state-owned regional airline SA Express.

Mekoa says her experience in the aviation sector and her understanding of the growing demand for air cargo across Africa are key to her vision of an integrated logistics model.

Earlier this year, she left her role in the Presidency as DDG responsible for corporate services to focus fully on the business. She credits the company’s two decades of growth to the professional women who have helped shape its trajectory.

Two such women are Deorall Parker and Khanyisile Zulu, both of whom joined the company as receptionists and now hold senior leadership positions.

Parker, now financial director, reflects on her 15-year journey at the company: “As the business grew and changed, it required me as an individual to change and transform as well. Hard work does not only pay off, but also produces a strong character in oneself. Young women should never doubt that they cannot achieve greatness in this industry and that they can grow this sector by the principles of ubuntu and fierce dedication,” she says.

She also stresses the importance of transformation and local support for South African logistics companies.

“The greatest challenge that the logistics industry is facing is transformation in the sense that international giants still set the rules in our own country and we are fighting for recognition and trust from our own people, which is really sad as a black-owned business. Local logistics companies still have to prove their worth in this country, and the only way to overcome it is by us uniting as South Africans and breaking those boundaries that are set by international giants,” she says, calling for stronger policy support for young people and women in the sector.

Zulu, now sales and marketing director, also credits the company’s employee ownership scheme with shifting internal culture.

“The employee ownership model has been transformative. It shifts the mindset from simply being an employee to thinking and acting like an owner. It instills a deeper sense of accountability, commitment, and pride in our work, while also fostering a culture of shared responsibility and collective success across the company,” she says.

Zulu, who rejoined Brima after furthering her studies and gaining experience in business development, is focused on broadening access for women in logistics.

“I want to be remembered as someone who created pathways and opportunities for women to enter, thrive, and lead this sector with confidence. One of the sector’s greatest challenges lies in poor infrastructure, particularly in relation to roads, rail, and ports. While the government plays a critical role in addressing these issues, this reality also creates opportunities for us as logistics players to find innovative solutions to ensure reliable and efficient service delivery.”

In a sector facing multiple challenges—from job losses to infrastructure constraints—stories like these offer a glimpse into the kind of leadership and transformation that could shape a more inclusive and resilient future for transport and logistics in South Africa.

Last month, IOL reported that the official unemployment rate in South Africa rose to its highest in one year as the jobless population surged by 140,000 in the three months to June, resulting in a total of 8.4 million individuals seeking work.

The increase in unemployment has raised concerns, with the official unemployment rate jumping by 0.3 percentage points from 32.9% in the first quarter to 33.2% in the second quarter. 

This is the highest jobless rate since the second quarter of 2024.

According to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) results for the second quarter of 2025, the labour market showed a modest increase in employment numbers, but this was coupled with a worrying rise in the unemployment rate. 

Statistics South Africa said there was an increase of 19,000 employed persons, bringing the total to 16.8 million.

jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za

IOL News  

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