Engen reaffirms longstanding commitment to SA’s transport sector at 2026 RFA Convention

Engen reaffirmed its partnership with the transport and logistics industry at the 2026 Road Freight Association (RFA) Convention held in late May at The Capital Zimbali Hotel under the theme, “Shifting Gears”.

The event, widely regarded as the premier trucking and freight gathering in South Africa, brought together more than 250 stakeholders from across the transport ecosystem. The convention was also attended by Deputy Minister of Transport Mkhuleko Hlengwa, reflecting the strategic importance of the sector to national economic development.

Longstanding partnership since 2016

As a committed industry partner, Engen has sponsored the RFA Convention since 2016, reinforcing its role as a trusted fuel and solutions provider to South Africa’s road freight industry.

This year, Engen sponsored the Welcome Dinner, which embraced a vibrant FIFA Fan Zone theme, celebrating the brand’s love of football. An Engen tanker on display brought the company’s logistics and fuel infrastructure to life.

Driving industry dialogue and leadership

During the convention, Engen’s general manager: Commercial, Sharveen Maharaj, delivered an address focused on current fuel market dynamics, supply resilience and Engen’s commitment to supporting the transport sector through periods of volatility.

He paid tribute to South Africa’s professional drivers, acknowledging the critical role they play in keeping the country moving despite challenging operating conditions. He noted that road freight operators and drivers remain the backbone of the economy, ensuring the reliable movement of goods across the country every day.

Reflecting on recent market conditions, Maharaj highlighted the impact of geopolitical instability in the Middle East, which has created fuel supply challenges, pricing volatility and uncertainty across global energy markets. He emphasised that Engen had remained resilient throughout this period, leveraging its ongoing investment in supply resilience and infrastructure to continue serving customers and supporting the country’s fuel requirements.

“As Engen, we are proud to fuel the industry that fuels the country. Despite a challenging operating environment, our focus remains on ensuring safe reliable supply and supporting the transport sector that plays such a vital role in South Africa’s economy,” he said.

He further noted that Engen’s fuels and lubricants businesses had worked closely together to navigate market disruptions while maintaining service levels and reinforcing the company’s leadership position in both sectors.

Maharaj also highlighted Engen’s broader social impact initiatives including its role in youth development through the Engen Knockout Challenge – South Africa’s premier youth football tournament – and its partnership with SA Harvest.

Engen’s partnership with SA Harvest demonstrates the critical role of fuel and logistics in enabling the movement of rescued food through refrigerated transport networks to communities in need, helping reduce food waste and improve food access across South Africa.

“We often think hunger is a shortage of food. But in South Africa, hunger is a shortage of movement. Every day, food goes to waste while families go to bed hungry. Not because the food isn’t there, but because it doesn’t always reach the people who need it most,” Maharaj said.

“Partnering with SA Harvest allows Engen to play our part, not through charity but through infrastructure; fuel that becomes kilometres, kilometres that become meals, and meals that restore dignity. Because when wheels turn, food moves. And when food moves, hope moves with it.”

Engen’s general manager: Lubricants, Jason Heath, emphasised the company’s innovation-led approach to fleet performance and reliability: “The transport sector runs on precision, efficiency and uptime. Engen’s lubricants help ensure every engine delivers optimal performance under demanding conditions. Our solutions are designed not just to lubricate but to enhance productivity, reduce downtime and support the long-term sustainability of our customers’ fleets. That is the standard we continue to raise for our partners in the freight industry.”

Innovation and digital fleet payment solutions

Engen also provided an update on its upcoming enhanced digital Engen Diesel Club platform, which will soon launch with significantly improved fleet management capabilities. The upgraded system is designed to offer fleet operators greater visibility, control and security through a modern, self-service digital experience.

Maharaj said these investments form part of Engen’s broader commitment to delivering practical solutions that help customers improve efficiency, manage costs and enhance operational visibility in an increasingly complex transport environment.

Industry engagement and experience

Engen’s presence at the convention extended beyond formal sessions, with experiential activations that showcased the company’s integrated fuel and logistics offering.

In keeping with Engen’s tradition of rewarding and engaging its customers and industry partners, attendees received a R250 Engen 1App fuel voucher, which was warmly welcomed given current fuel costs.