Why We Are Registered With SAAFF
A recent article on the AllAfrica website about the poor state of freight forwarding in Nigeria, highlighted the importance of freight forwarders being registered with a body like SAAFF. In the article the lack of qualifications of so many freight forwarding practitioners is given as the reason for this sorry state of affairs. In South Africa freight forwarding is not such a dire picture and the main reason for this is that practitioners are registered with SAAFF.
If a South African freight forwarder is registered with SAAFF, you can know that you will get the best service from someone that abides by the Code of Ethical Conduct as it is set out by the organisation. SAAFF encourages the highest level of moral and ethical conduct of its members. As freight forwarders and customs clearing agents, the services provided by members impact greatly on the success or otherwise of their clients shipments, the correctness of declarations and documents, transit times, accurate payments to third parties, and a host of other factors within the international supply chain. To this end, members are required to accept and abide by a Code of Ethical Conduct, to sign a certificate confirming this, and to display prominently a copy of such certificate in a public area of every office where they trade.
What is the difference between SAAFF and FIATA?
SAAFF is a member of FIATA – the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations. FIATA is the largest non-governmental organisation in the field of international transportation and its influence is felt worldwide. FIATA represents an industry covering approximately 40 000 forwarding and logistics firms, employing about 9 million people in 150 countries globally. SAAFF derives benefit from FIATA’s international standing, its participation in many trade-related world forums and its knowledge of international forwarding affairs.
SAAFF was formed in 1921 and is a national association with members throughout South Africa. While it attends to matters of national interest, its constitution permits regions to form chapters of the association, to deal with local issues. Five regions have qualified to establish their own chapters: Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Border.
The Association is a non-profit organisation governed by a constitution which provides for a board of directors, with a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson. Its directors are highly experienced, senior managers from member freight forwarding companies, who are nominated and voted for by these members. An Executive Officer administers and manages the Association’s daily affairs.
The Purpose of SAAFF
With an estimated five hundred agents operating in the country, it is recognized that an industry voice is imperative.
SAAFF liaises closely with many government departments and parastatal institutions, dealing with matters such as customs, port health, trade permits, border controls, export control of perishable products, cargo handling and security at harbour terminals and airports, plant quality, railway services and roadfreight legislation.
The Association enables members to call on their collective knowledge and skills to determine and recommend practical and effective responses to the many challenges facing not only the forwarding and customs clearing industry, but also those affecting the commercial interests of their clients. This would be impossible to achieve by individual companies.
The Association is the vehicle by which agents who choose to become members can, in a cost effective manner, secure consistent and effective representation on forums which influence their business – so that technological and legislative developments do not compromise service quality and delivery, but rather enhance it, and that impediments to international trade are minimised.
In view of the international character of the freight forwarder, a close relationship with other freight forwarding associations is considered of vital importance, especially in a Southern African context.
Macro Clearing is Registered with SAAFF
As the Nigerian article mentions, it’s very important for a importer/exporter to work with a freight forwarder that has the qualifications and experience to deliver a dependable service. Incompetent freight forwarders can do a lot of harm to the industry.
A body like SAAFF sees to the integrity and competence of freight forwarders that are registered with them. Therefor you know that those practitioners can be trusted to deliver reliable services that you can depend on.
Macro Clearing is registered with SAAFF, so when dealing with us, you know that we have to adhere to their Code of Ethical Conduct, giving you the peace of mind you need to entrust us with your freight.