Women are making inroads into the once traditionally male-dominated logistics sector, and the latest graduation of 95 women with international qualifications in the field highlighted just how far they have come.
The Commercial Transport Academy (CTA) made the announcement, signifying a historic milestone for the institution’s contribution to education in the sector.
Their training and graduation forms part of the pioneering ‘Women Inspiring Women to Lead in Transport’ programme, the brainchild of Nicci Scott, founder of the CTA. Supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the programme has a target to get 1 000 women to complete the programme, which aims to uplift their skills in management, entrepreneurship and truck driving.
The graduates, who are currently employed in logistics, transport and supply chain organisations across the country, underwent an intense ten-month training programme aimed at improving their knowledge, helping them to learn new skills, and advancing their management and leadership abilities to secure senior-level employment.
Worldwide Flight Services - South Africa (WFS), an active supporter of the programme, is among the local businesses that have benefited from the educational opportunity for employees.
“WFS now has the edge in the market, with two ladies having participated and successfully completed the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport’s (CILT) International Diploma in Logistics and Transport. The knowledge is valuable to our organisation and to the two ladies,” Elvis Maleka, WFS Johannesburg operations manager, said.
He added that the CTA’s focus on training women was helping to confront the skills gap in the industry.
“This is a gain for us as a ground handler and WFS is proud to be part of this change,” Maleka said.
As a result of her successful completion of the Programme, WFS’s Zethu Dlamini received a promotion from senior imports team leader to administration manager in the firm’s imports department.
Dlamini, who has faced many personal challenges, said the educational opportunity had assisted her career.
“If it wasn’t for this great initiative of the CTA, I would never have been able to graduate with an international diploma. I am so grateful to WFS managing director Malcom Tonkin for enabling me to improve my skills and leadership abilities,” Dlamini said.
With their CILT Diploma and industry experience, the graduates will be able to apply to carry internationally recognised designations after their names, an increasingly important asset given National Treasury’s initiative to professionalise the supply chain.
Transport contributes 8% to the total GDP and research has shown that it has the potential to create four jobs per R1 million invested.
“Yet transport is the least gender-transformed sector,” Scott said.
“Urgent interventions that have an impact are vital. Our programme is one such initiative that will have a positive impact on industry transformation,” she said.
