Network Talk – Episode #9 on South Africa as a logistics location and opportunities on the African continent

In the podcast, Detlev Duve looks back on the country organization’s remarkable history. What began as Jonen Freight, a freight forwarding company founded by his father with ten employees, has developed over the past decades into a company with around 230 employees and four locations in South Africa. Today, it is a wholly owned subsidiary of DACHSER and fully integrated into the logistics provider’s global network. He also explains why shared values and a family-oriented corporate culture were key success factors along the way.

Another focus of the conversation is South Africa’s role in international trade. Detlev Duve describes how, despite infrastructural challenges, the country has established itself as an important gateway to the markets of Southern Africa. The episode also offers insights into South Africa’s economic diversity—from raw materials and automotive to consumer goods and Life Science & Healthcare. He explains what customers expect from logistics providers today and why transparency, reliability, and digital solutions along the entire supply chain are becoming increasingly important.

A further key topic in the conversation is DACHSER South Africa’s social commitment. Together with Terre des Hommes and the Outreach Foundation, the company supports education and training programs for young people. Drawing on specific examples, Duve shows the difference that qualification and employment prospects can make for families and entire communities.