State of Logistics in South Africa: A review of the past five years

Abstract

The annual State of Logistics survey for South Africa (SOL) is now in its fifth year of production and the next report titled “Logistics value and cost drivers from a macro and micro economic perspective” will be released in March 2009. Each survey has a specific theme around which the content is structured and provides insight into the logistics and supply chain issues on a macro and micro-economic level. The first survey released in 2004 was aptly titled “The case for measurement and revitalisation of basic logistics infrastructure in our dual economy”. The 2005 survey focussed on “Defining research priorities for developmental logistics” and in 2006 the theme revolved around “Implementing logistics strategies in a developing economy”. There is a strong developmental focus in these reports, which recognises the need for emphasis on the second economy when analysing the logistics sector in South Africa. The 2007 and fourth survey is titled “Logistics for regional growth and development” and portrays the role South Africa plays, from a logistical viewpoint, in the southern African region