Logistics is still widely seen as a male-dominated industry, particularly at operational level. At Fastway Couriers, the numbers tell a different story. Nationally, women hold seven of Fastway’s General Manager roles, three Operations Manager roles, and the company’s Operations Director role, across a network of 16 depots and more than 800 courier franchisees.
Ivashni Manikkam, General Manager: National Operations at Fastway, says the pattern reflects how the company defines 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. We are committed to providing equal opportunities for women to succeed at every level of our business. We know that diverse teams make us stronger, and we’re proud to support an inclusive culture where women can lead, innovate and build long-term careers and businesses.”
Many of the women Manikkam counts among Fastway’s leadership have built their careers within the network, progressing through operational roles over a number of years. That hands-on experience gives them a deep understanding of the business, its customers, and the complexities of managing last-mile logistics within a franchise environment – overseeing daily operations, leading teams, managing franchise relationships and ensuring customer commitments are consistently met.
That pattern extends well beyond head office:
– In Klerksdorp, Humairah Asmal owns the regional franchise outright, while Operations Manager, Abigail Visser, and Sophy Sedi – who spent more than five years as the depot’s Operations Manager before moving into finance – help lead a team built almost entirely by women.
– In Nelspruit, Chantelle Wood took over running the depot when its previous manager left at short notice, stepping in rather than leave her father – the Regional Franchisee of both the Nelspruit and Polokwane depots – to manage alone. She has since become a shareholder in both depots and runs one of Fastway’s best-performing franchises on service.
– In Durban, close to 70% of the depot’s departments, including operations, finance, customer service and sales, are led by women.
– And in Cape Town, every department within the Regional Franchise depot – from operations to finance – is led by a woman, with women making up nearly 75% of the wider team running day-to-day operations: coordinating parcels, people and delivery timelines, and resolving customer challenges.
Fastway Cape Town General Manager, Heleen Kruger, has spent 23 years in the transport industry, building experience across finance, sales and operations and leading several large departments. Yet it is the operational side of the business to which she has consistently returned. “People often say that you don’t choose this industry; the industry chooses you. That has certainly been true for me. I have worked across different departments, but I always return to operations. It is where I feel most at home and where I believe I can make the greatest difference.”
Kruger says women have had to work hard to change perceptions about their ability to lead in this space. “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.”
Fastway’s Candice Essau, Operations Manager, is another example. She joined Fastway in 2010, when the Cape Town branch first opened, and progressed through different departments before moving into leadership. “My journey has been one of continuous growth. Working across various departments allowed me to understand different parts of the business, take on new responsibilities and develop into a leadership role. I am proud to show that women can lead operational teams, solve complex problems and make tough decisions. Leadership is not about having all the answers, it is about building strong teams, making good decisions and empowering the people around you to succeed.”
For Manikkam, changing those perceptions starts with how the industry talks to the next generation of talent. “Don’t let outdated perceptions of the industry hold you back. Women are proving every day that they can excel in operational and leadership roles, bringing valuable strengths such as collaboration, problem-solving, resilience, and the ability to build high-performing teams. Some of the most successful leaders in logistics started in entry-level operational roles and built their careers through experience, dedication and a genuine passion for serving customers and improving processes.”
As South Africa marks Women’s Month, Fastway’s leadership – from franchise ownership in Klerksdorp and Nelspruit to national management and depot floors in Cape Town and Durban – reflects a broader shift already underway in the logistics industry. Progress is no longer only about creating space for women in the sector; it’s about recognising the critical ownership, operational and leadership roles they already hold in keeping the country’s parcels, and the businesses that depend on them, moving and growing.
For more information, visit www.fastway.co.za
