AFRI-CONN
HOME
ABOUT US ▾
Company Overview
Timeline & History
Leadership Team
ESG & Transformation
Organisational Structure
Our Ecosystem
CAPABILITIES ▾
Mining & Commodities
Rail Infrastructure
Ports & Logistics
International Trade
Engineering & Industrial
PARTNERS
CONTACT
MINING & COMMODITIES
Manganese · Chrome · Iron Ore
RAIL & PORTS
Terminals · Sidings · Development
TRADE & LOGISTICS
Global Sourcing · Freight
ENGINEERING
AUTO · Fabrication · EPC
LEVEL 1 BEE
135% Black Owned, Majority Female
135% Black Owned, Majority Female
ESTABLISHED 2017
South Africa
South Africa
MULTI-SECTOR PLATFORM
Mining · Logistics · Energy · Trade
Mining · Logistics · Energy · Trade
AFRICA-FOCUSED
Connecting Africa to the world
Connecting Africa to the world
ABOUT AFRICONN
ENGINEERING. INFRASTRUCTURE. TRADE. IMPACT.
Company Overview
Timeline & History
Leadership Team
ESG & Transformation
Organisational Structure
Our Ecosystem
AFRI-CONN
AfriConn Basksons
Marketing & Trade JV
Marketing & Trade JV
Coega Super-Chain
Integrated Logistics
Integrated Logistics
BOMA Omnihaul
Bulk Transport
Bulk Transport
Commodity Partners
Tshenolo · IOS · Others
Tshenolo · IOS · Others
MXP Shipping & Logistics
Ports & Shipping
Ports & Shipping
Rockbase SA
Bunkering & Fuel
Bunkering & Fuel
CEO & CHAIRMAN
Hlumelo Maqizana
COO
Chris Whitehead
CFO
Siphlelele Xatasi
CCO
Denash Naidoo
CCO
Riaz Poovan
BACK OF PORT SUPERVISOR
Johan De Freitas
Reports to the COO — 10+ years exporting at Richards Bay.
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR
Ben — Blue Skies Risk
Compliance, regulatory & admin
ENGINEERING PARTNER — BOMA TEAM
eNtsa · NMU — Design & Fabrication Consultancy
AfriConn is building an end-to-end industrial platform that connects resources to markets through engineering, logistics, infrastructure and energy solutions. Our ecosystem creates value at every point in the supply chain.
COEGA SUPER-CHAIN
The umbrella brand for the group's integrated Commodities and Logistics platform — tying every operating company into one inland-to-port supply chain.
AfriConn Basksons — Marketing & Trade JV
Coega Super-Chain — Integrated Logistics
BOMA Omnihaul — Bulk Transport
MXP Shipping & Logistics — Ports & Shipping
Rockbase SA — Bunkering & Fuel
Commodity Partners — Tshenolo · IOS · Others
Founded in 2017, AfriConn (Pty) Ltd is a 135% B-BBEE Level 1 Black Owned South African industrial platform spanning commodity trading, logistics infrastructure, mining asset acquisition, engineering and energy solutions.
Built from the ground up by founding director Hlumelo Magazana, AfriConn has grown into a trusted partner across the resources and logistics sectors. Our management team combines entrepreneurial agility with deep industry experience and a proven track record of executing complex projects.
✓ Headquartered in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), South Africa
✓ Operations across key mining regions and export corridors
✓ Strong relationships with public & private sector stakeholders
✓ Focus on value creation, sustainability and local empowerment
ESTABLISHED
2017
OWNERSHIP
135% Black Owned, Majority Female
BEE STATUS
Level 1
FOCUS AREAS
Mining · Logistics · Energy · Engineering · Trade
FOOTPRINT
South Africa · SADC · Global Reach
COMPANY TIMELINE
2017
AfriConn founded
2019
General importer; SPAR EC Distribution Center Vendor for Chinese electrical goods & Eastern Cape fresh produce
2022
Expanded into car parts & spares import from China
2023
Won Dept. of Transport tender to repair structurally damaged vehicles — origin of AfriConn's engineering expertise
2024
Selected by Buffalo City Municipality for the first China-SA Silk Road cohort; trained at Wuhan Vocational College of Software & Engineering; introduced to Chinese SOEs and engineering firms.
Invited to the Shanghai Auto Show 2024.
Invited to the Shanghai Auto Show 2024.
2025
Signed strategic cooperation agreements with Zhongxinfang Huajian Group and Tongling Port & Navigation.
Africonn and MXP consulting Invited to Wuhan River port for international trade co-operation at the Wuhan international Trade exhibition Palace.
Invited as an export exhibitor at the Dept. of Trade and Industry Export Symposium.
Exported 100 thousand Tons of Rock Phosphate to South Korea
Africonn and MXP consulting Invited to Wuhan River port for international trade co-operation at the Wuhan international Trade exhibition Palace.
Invited as an export exhibitor at the Dept. of Trade and Industry Export Symposium.
Exported 100 thousand Tons of Rock Phosphate to South Korea
2026
Invited to Mining Indaba 2026 as an industry-recognized Downstream buyer.
Invited by Department of Trade and Industry to accompany the President of the Republic on the Asia Investment out-mission (Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand)
Signed MOU and joint venture with Basksons 87 Construction and Projects.
Tshenolo mandate signed (Project BlackBear — manganese, Project Panda — iron ore); MSC City Deep chrome concentrate slot secured; offer submitted for the Markmans precinct erf.
Exported 200 thousand tons of Iron ore to France
Invited by Department of Trade and Industry to accompany the President of the Republic on the Asia Investment out-mission (Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand)
Signed MOU and joint venture with Basksons 87 Construction and Projects.
Tshenolo mandate signed (Project BlackBear — manganese, Project Panda — iron ore); MSC City Deep chrome concentrate slot secured; offer submitted for the Markmans precinct erf.
Exported 200 thousand tons of Iron ore to France
CEO & CHAIRMAN
Hlumelo Maqizana
Cambridge International A-Levels; LLB Honours. Digital & International Trade, Wuhan Vocational College — China-SA Silk Road Initiative. Fluent in English, Xhosa & Mandarin.
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Chris Whitehead
32+ years in mining, materials handling & logistics. Former Group CEO, Izintaba Group (R1.3bn).
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Siphlelele Xatasi
National Diploma Cost & Management Accounting. Former CEO of Alugus Pty Ltd. Current part-time Financial Officer at Agri & Mining Pty Ltd.
CHIEF COMMERCIAL OFFICER
Denash Naidoo
Former Chief Commercial Officer at Epworth Coal for 3+ years; raised R50m in working capital via trade facility.
CHIEF COMMERCIAL OFFICER
Riaz Poovan
10 years: Imperial Logistics — Operations Controller. Mercedes-Benz: Line Stoppage Prevention. Buffalo City Municipality: E-Natis Clerk.
BACK OF PORT SUPERVISOR
Johan De Freitas
10+ years exporting & loading vessels at Richards Bay alongside Chris. Ran 3 facilities concurrently, 400+ trucks/day, exporting over 1m tons for Exxaro.
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR
Ben — Blue Skies Risk
Compliance, regulatory & admin. Specialist in bunkering and fuel station applications and compliance; previously advised on the container depot recently RFP'd by Transnet.
ENGINEERING PARTNER — BOMA TEAM (eNtsa · NMU)
Design & Fabrication Consultancy
Van Der Merwe, Hubertus (Mr) — Summerstrand Campus North
Pentz, Willem (Dr) PhD — Summerstrand Campus North
Gnaness Lethario — Senior Engineer, Testing
Pentz, Willem (Dr) PhD — Summerstrand Campus North
Gnaness Lethario — Senior Engineer, Testing
LEVEL 1 B-BBEE — 135% Black Owned, majority female ownership
YOUTH EMPOWERMENT — Skills development, learnerships & enterprise development
LOCAL COMMUNITIES — Creating jobs and supporting local economic growth
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP — Responsible resource use and emissions reduction
HEALTH & SAFETY — Zero harm culture across all operations
PARTNERSHIP — Partnering with Rockbase SA, majority female-owned
OWNERSHIP
Inclusive participation in the economy
EDUCATION
Building skills for the future
SUPPLY CHAIN
Empowering local suppliers
SUSTAINABILITY
Building a better Africa for generations
WORKFORCE AGE PROFILE (STAFFING PLAN, NH/07/2026/01)
60%
TARGET
Target: ≥60% of entry-level operational roles (marshalls, general labourers, weighbridge support) filled by youth under 35 — 18 from previously disadvantaged communities of 38 total positions at full ramp, consistent with AfriConn's founder-led, under-35 profile.
VALUE CHAIN
OUR CAPABILITIES
BOMA OMNIHAUL
Advanced Bladder Bulk Transport Solutions
A patented next-generation bladder bulk transport system engineered for the safe, efficient and cost-effective movement of dry bulk and liquid commodities. Developed with eNtsa (Nelson Mandela University) and tested by the University of Pretoria — designed with Alutip Truck Bodies, Waltloo Pretoria.
Two-mode bladder system
Dry bulk & liquids — one trailer
35% payload increase
Rapid discharge, minimal residue
DIVERSIFIED. STRATEGIC. MARKET-DRIVEN.
COMMODITY PLATFORM
IRON ORE (Fe)
High-grade resource. Mandate with Tshenolo Iron Ore Mine. Export via rail to Coega.
16%
REVENUE CONTRIBUTION
MANGANESE (Mn)
South Africa ~17% of global production. Marketing mandate with Tshenolo under Project BlackBear. Export via Coega.
CURRENT FOT REVENUE: R24.59M/month
58%
REVENUE CONTRIBUTION
CHROME CONCENTRATE
Mandate with IOS Resources. Containerised exports via City Deep. High demand in stainless steel.
12%
REVENUE CONTRIBUTION
MANDATE PRINCIPAL
Tshenolo Iron Ore Mine — marketing mandate under Project BlackBear (manganese) and Project Panda (iron ore).
*Diesel/bunkering commission (Rockbase) contributes an additional 14% of Year 5 projected revenue mix.
STRATEGIC PORTSIDE LOCATION
THE LAND — MARKMANS
PARCEL
NH/07/2026/01 — Markmans Industrial, Port of Ngqura
NH/07/2026/01 — Markmans Industrial, Port of Ngqura
SIZE
4.1096 hectares (Markmans erf)
4.1096 hectares (Markmans erf)
ZONING
Industrial 2
Industrial 2
ACCESS
Direct road access, Port & Rail adjacent
Direct road access, Port & Rail adjacent
UTILITIES
Electricity & water connection points on site
Electricity & water connection points on site
USAGE
Stevedoring, Bunkering, Staging, Logistics
Stevedoring, Bunkering, Staging, Logistics
MARKMAN INDUSTRIAL MARKET EVIDENCE (SOURCE: PROPERTY24)
Annual registered sales rose from single digits/year (2020–22) to 17–18/year (2023–25). Monthly listings for sale collapsed from ~18–19/month (mid-2025) to 1–3/month (2026) — stock is near a standstill. Average asking price rose from ~R2m (2017) to ~R20m asking (2025), with a R15m sale achieved.
SOUTH AFRICA'S NEXT LOGISTICS POWERHOUSE
COEGA SUPER-CHAIN
An integrated rail, port and manufacturing platform 14km behind the Port of Ngqura designed to unlock value across the minerals, energy and manufacturing supply chains.
RAIL CONNECTIVITY — Direct link to Northern Cape mines and beyond
PORT ACCESS — Deep-water access to global shipping lanes
CARGO SOLUTIONS — Bulk, breakbulk, containers, projects and fuel
VALUE-ADD INFRASTRUCTURE — Storage, bunkering, workshops and future terminals
MARKMANS LAND
~14km from the Port of Ngqura — a fully serviced, zoned greenfield rail-linked site.
CHINA BUYERS
XMXYG (Xiamen Xiangyu Group), Zhongxinfang Huajian Group, Tongling Port & Navigation.
MSC CITY DEEP SLOT
Chrome concentrate mandate via IOS Resources, containerised at City Deep.
STRONG PARTNERSHIPS. PROVEN DELIVERY.
INDUSTRY & STRATEGIC PARTNERS
RESOURCE PARTNERS
Tshenolo Iron Ore Mine · BlackBear Manganese Project · City Deep · IOS Resources
LOGISTICS & TRADE PARTNERS
BIDPort (Port Operator) · Rennies Ship Agency · Coega (Port of Ngqura) · GIBB Engineering & Science · Zutari
INDUSTRY & TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS
eNtsa (NMU) — Innovation Through Engineering · Alutip Truck Bodies · FTS Flexitank Systems · Technology Innovation Agency
FINANCIAL & STRATEGIC PARTNERS
IDC · Standard Bank · RMB · MXP Shipping & Logistics · Rockbase SA · Sasol
OFFTAKE PARTNERS — CHINA
Three Asia-based, state-owned offtake counterparties: XMXYG (Xiamen Xiangyu Group), Zhongxinfang Huajian Group, Tongling Port & Navigation.
GET IN TOUCH
Let's Build Africa's Future Together
One Chain. One Vision. Africa Connected.
📍 1st Floor, Harbour View Building, Oakworth Rd, South End, Gqeberha, 6001
043 732 1727
Afri-conn1@outlook.com
HM@Afri-conn.com
HM@Afri-conn.com
afri-conn.com
Thank you.
We'll be in touch shortly.
NAME
EMAIL
MESSAGE
Send Message
© 2026 AfriConn (Pty) Ltd — Level 1 B-BBEE, 135% Black Owned. All rights reserved.