Insights from the 12th Transport Evolution Africa

Transport Evolution Africa 2025 concluded at Johannesburg’s Gallagher Convention Centre, uniting public and private stakeholders to drive sustainable, inclusive, and integrated infrastructure across the continent.

“This year built strong momentum around green fuels, smarter borders, and multimodal systems aligned with long-term goals,” said Sandra Barrow, event director at dmg events.

High-impact turnout and international engagement

Drawing over 4 000 attendees from 20+ countries (including the SADC region, UAE, Kenya, Ghana, and Ethiopia) the event reinforced South Africa’s status as a logistics and investment hub. Delegates engaged in content-rich sessions and high-level networking, tackling key challenges across transport’s evolving value chain.

Energy transition and fuel innovation

Hydrox Holdings revealed a breakthrough in hydrogen electrolysis that could dramatically reduce fuel production costs. “Africa cannot wait for perfect conditions,” said CEO Corrie de Jager. “We have the wind, the solar, and now the local IP.”

While CSIR’s Thomas Roos emphasised green fuels and shore power in positioning South Africa as a maritime decarbonisation leader. “Shipping’s net zero transition is a springboard for green hydrogen development and our ports can lead the way,” he said.

Road safety, AI and data-driven logistics

Presentations by Zutari, Optix and others showed how AI, predictive tools, and smart fleet platforms are reducing downtime and improving safety in mining, FMCG and logistics. “You can’t scale responsibly without knowing what the data is telling you,” said Optix’s Clay Colgate.

Inclusive transport and corridor planning

Experts stressed the need for equitable planning, SEZ integration, and balancing profit with social inclusion. Vishal Pooran of GIP spoke on bridging historical inequality in public transport access: “We cannot solve exclusion with engineering alone. Equity must be factored into policy, investment and project delivery from the start.”

Maritime discussions focused on fuel-switch readiness and port electrification to cut emissions and uplift nearby communities.

Celebrating innovation at TEA Awards 2025

The Transport Evolution Africa Awards honoured achievements in sustainability, equity, and industry leadership. Winners included:

• Best Equity, Diversity and Inclusion: Grindrod Logistics
• Women in Transport: Mokwane Dikeledi (Bidvest McCarthy)
• Excellence in Sustainability and ESG: Dangote Cement Transport
• Leadership in Transport and Logistics: Jonathan Mphake (SBV Services)
• Transformation in Transport: Lovemore Bingandadi (SADC/COMESA/EAC)

“This year’s winners show Africa’s growing ability to lead and innovate in shaping its transport future,” said Josh Low.

Transport Evolution Africa returns in 2026, continuing its commitment to clean mobility, regional integration and connected transport systems.