Long-standing training institutions in South Africa’s logistics industry have consolidated in opposition to the recent launch by the South Association of Freight Forwarders (Saaff) of a Training Academy (ta) – an educational endeavour they say is in direct conflict with their own business interests (*).
Moreover, they say that Saaffta is funded by the fees of an association of which the colleges have been members for over 20 years.
Juliette Fourie, founder and CEO of Metro Minds, who took up the cudgels on behalf of her own business as well as three other colleges (**) – the Institute of Quality, School of Shipping, and KLM Empowered – listed several reasons why they are objecting to Saaffta.
In correspondence shared with Freight News, the colleges argue among other things that Saaff used members’ money to buy shares in another private business – a telecommunications service provider - which is a 51% shareholder of Saaffta.
From what can be ascertained, the business in question is Synergy Transformation Solutions, whose managing director, Jerann Naudi, is also the director of Saaffta (read this for context: https://tinyurl.com/46urd8nj)
The colleges furthermore object on the grounds that “Saaff as an association is not supposed to make a profit on services or goods sold”, and that “with access to the entire Saaff marketing platform with their members, surely it is not ethical to be a shareholder in a company that will benefit greatly from this”.
Also, and perhaps most importantly, the colleges say that Saaffta’s training portfolio, which will be looked after by Maria du Preez, current acting chair of Saaff's board, “is 100% conflict of interest with her share on the academy”.
The colleges also pointed out that, in addition, the remaining 49% shares in Saaffta are split equally between Saaff and Du Preez.
A letter sent to the association to address their objections said: “The current training providers – Metro Minds, Institute for Quality, School of Shipping, (and LKM) – place in the strongest terms our absolute disappointment in the manner in which Saaff has communicated the matter of the training academy to the providers concerned.
“Whilst there was a very rushed attempt to draw providers to a meeting with impossible time frames, there was zero communication on this matter.
“It has already been announced on social media without any consultation to the provider community being affected negatively.”
The colleges said it was regrettable that Saaff had decided to launch a training facility that would compete with own business interests – using membership fees.
“This is nothing but blatant disrespect and certainly not expected from an esteemed organisation.
“We reserve our right to take up this matter with the relevant stakeholders as we believe setting up this training academy, in the manner executed, violates regulatory and legal rights.”
* Please see separate post loaded shortly after this report for Saaff’s response.
** The colleges are all accredited by the Transport Education Training Authority.
