Who We Are
The Container User Forum represents a groundbreaking, industry-led initiative designed to transform container logistics through collaborative action. As a non-profit company, the CUF brings together all stakeholders in the container sector under one unified platform.
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The CUF fills the long-standing gap between strategy and execution, converting collective insight into measurable system improvements through joint projects, shared data, and transparent reporting
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THE VISION: We want to work towards South Africa functioning as the trusted, high-performance container hub for Sub-Saharan Africa through a connected system of ports, rail corridors, dry ports and logistics nodes that offers shipping lines and cargo owners the most reliable, cost-effective and sustainable way to serve the region.
Focus Areas
Operational Efficiency
Improving dwell times, yard and gate management, inland logistics, strengthening end-to-end fluidity across South Africa’s container network.
Policy & Regulation
Facilitating alignment between industry and government, ensuring reforms and strategies drive tangible outcomes across logistics corridors. Working closely with Industry Associations.
Digitalisation & Data Transparency
The CUF promotes “one-truth” performance dashboards and evidence-based decision-making across the container value chain.
Skills & Empowerment
Driving skills development, training, and systems uplift to ensure world-class performance standards across the workforce.
Origins of the CUF
The Journey
The Container User Forum emerged from the work of the National Logistics Crisis Committee (NLCC), where government and industry came together to stabilise South Africa’s freight system during a period of severe disruption.
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In those container workstreams, a structural gap became clear.
Unlike the bulk corridors, which operate through formal user forums, the container sector had many voices but no neutral platform to translate shared problems into coordinated execution and measurable outcomes.
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The CUF was established to institutionalise the collaboration model proven in the NLCC; providing a permanent, industry-led execution engine to address system-wide container challenges and build towards a competitive regional hub.
Our Partners
The CUF has secured endorsement and constructive engagement from key stakeholders across the container ecosystem, including national industry bodies, port and logistics leaders, and organised business representatives.
In parallel, significant membership interest has been registered from major shipping lines, cargo owners and operators seeking to participate in the the CUF’s project pipeline.
This early support underscores the sector’s readiness to institutionalise collaboration and sustain recent performance gains.
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​Formal announcements of confirmed members and institutional supporters will be made in phases following the official launch.
Governance and Leadership
The Container User Forum was established by industry leaders to offer a neutral platform South Africa’s container industry. By employing proven collaboration models, the CUF seeks to transform common challenges into quantifiable improvements across the system.
Interim Board Members
Juanita Maree
Board Chair | CEO, SAAFF
Dr Juanita Maree leads the South African Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF) and brings deep experience in trade facilitation, customs modernisation, and industry coordination. She is recognised for building practical public–private collaboration models that strengthen supply-chain performance.
Krish Reddy
Board Chair | Professional Engineer
Krishna Reddy is a professional civil engineer with extensive experience in major logistics and infrastructure programmes across ports and rail. He brings an execution focus on delivery governance, capital discipline, and integrated network performance.
Palesa Phili
Board Member | CEO, Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Palesa Phili leads the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry and brings senior leadership experience across the ICT and telecommunications sector. She champions inclusive growth, investor confidence, and practical partnerships that strengthen the business environment in KwaZulu-Natal.
Interim Executive Team
Brenda Magqwaka
Chief Executive
Brenda Magqwaka is a seasoned ports and rail operations specialist with a strong track record in terminal performance and commercial growth. She brings practical delivery leadership to CUF, with deep operational credibility across the container logistics system.
Operations Team
The CUF is supported by a lean operations team combining strong financial stewardship with hands-on programme coordination. The team manages governance, reporting, and day-to-day delivery support so that initiatives move from agreed priorities to measurable outcomes.
Membership Tiers
Choose the membership tier that best fits your organisation’s role in the container value chain. All tiers provide access to CUF’s neutral platform and are governed by competition-law and confidentiality safeguards.
Strategic Members
For organisations that want leadership influence and co-leadership on initiatives.
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Eligible for nomination to the CUF Board or steering committees
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Priority access to the project pipeline and concept development
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Co-branding rights on select CUF initiatives
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Full access to CUF research, analytics, and stakeholder forums
Core Members
For key operators and stakeholders shaping and delivering projects.
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Participation in working groups and project design sessions
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Access to research outputs and “one-truth” data insights
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Attendance at CUF workshops, forums, and networking events
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Included in quarterly member briefings and reports
Association Members
For associations and institutes supporting alignment and knowledge-sharing.
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Networking and knowledge-sharing with the CUF member base
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Inclusion in select communications and events
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Recognition as an affiliated association
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No project funding obligations (unless in-kind participation)