The National Department of Transport (DoT) has reminded all stakeholders in the airfreight sector that the date for comments on the gazetted Airfreight Strategy of South Africa is fast approaching.
The strategy has identified 11 priority areas with one of them being on the usage of drones or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in the provision of seamless services and movement of goods in the airfreight sub-sector.
Drones or AUVs are included not as a simple technical innovation in the envisaged Airfreight Strategy for South Africa but as a critical enabler designed to significantly multiply the efficiency, inclusivity, and resilience of the entire national airfreight system.
“Drones or UAVs offer a powerful solution for the ‘first and last mile’ of delivery. They will complement the conventional road-based transportation by rapidly moving smaller, time-sensitive, and high-value shipments. For businesses, this means lower operational costs, faster delivery times, and a significant boost to e-commerce growth,” the department said on Sunday.
This technology is expected to extend the reach of airfreight to rural and hard-to-reach areas where traditional modes of transport are hugely challenged.
“By offering an agile, alternative transport option, drones or UAVs add a crucial layer of resilience to supply chains, ensuring continuity during disasters like floods or infrastructure failures. Furthermore, drones or UAVs stand to foster alignment with global sustainability goals by providing a greener, low-emission delivery method.
“Given the public conversation on drones or UAVs that has sparked in the wake of publication of the draft Airfreight Strategy for South Africa, it is essential for the DOT to implore the public, once more, to submit their comments on the gazetted draft Airfreight Strategy for South Africa,” the department said.
The draft Airfreight Strategy for South Africa aims to unlock the full economic potential of the airfreight sub-sector by addressing systemic challenges such as fragmented cargo corridors, market barriers, and weak regional connectivity.
It is a product of a rigorous, future-focused assessment that was initiated by the DOT on its national transport policies in relation to the National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) of 2017.
The findings of the assessments indicated that while passenger and commercial aviation have advanced, the airfreight sub-sector has remained relatively underdeveloped and fragmented.
“This situation limits the country’s trade and logistical capabilities, thus emphasising the need for a more integrated and efficient airfreight network to unlock its full potential,” the department said.
The window period for the public to submit comments on the draft document was set from 26 September 2025 to 07 November 2025.
