Women Take the Lead Across Fastway Couriers’ South African Depot Network
Women Take the Lead Across Fastway Couriers’ South African Depot Network. Women are taking on ownership, operational and leadership responsibilities across Fastway Couriers’ South African depot network, challenging perceptions of logistics as a male-dominated industry.
Fastway said women currently hold seven general manager positions, three operations manager roles and its operations director position nationally. The company operates across a network of 16 depots and more than 800 courier franchisees.
Ivashni Manikkam, general manager of national operations at Fastway, said the company focuses on capability rather than gender when defining leadership.
“At Fastway, we don’t see courier and logistics as a male or female industry, we see it as an industry for capable people,” said Manikkam.
According to the company, several women in its leadership structure have developed their careers within the network, progressing through operational positions and gaining experience in areas including customer service, team management, franchise relationships and last-mile logistics.
In Klerksdorp, Humairah Asmal owns the regional franchise, while operations manager Abigail Visser and Sophy Sedi, who previously spent more than five years as the depot’s operations manager before moving into finance, are part of the team leading the operation.
In Nelspruit, Chantelle Wood stepped into the management of the depot after its previous manager left at short notice. Wood subsequently became a shareholder in both the Nelspruit and Polokwane depots and runs the Nelspruit franchise.
Fastway’s Durban depot also has significant female representation in leadership. The company said women lead close to 70% of the depot’s departments, including operations, finance, customer service and sales.
In Cape Town, every department within the regional franchise depot is led by a woman. Women also account for nearly 75% of the wider team responsible for day-to-day operations.
Fastway Cape Town general manager Heleen Kruger has spent 23 years in the transport industry, with experience spanning finance, sales and operations. She said she has consistently been drawn back to operational work.
“Logistics is still seen as a male-dominated industry, particularly at operational level. But women are showing that they can lead from the front, make difficult decisions and succeed across every part of the business,” Kruger said.
Candice Essau, operations manager at Fastway, joined the company in 2010 and has worked across several departments before moving into leadership.
She said her progression allowed her to understand different parts of the business and develop into a leadership role.
As part of Women’s Month, Manikkam encouraged women considering careers in logistics not to be discouraged by traditional perceptions of the sector.
She said women are already demonstrating their ability to work in operational and leadership positions while contributing skills including problem-solving, collaboration and team building.
