26/02/2026
The Road Freight Association has learnt with great sadness of the passing of PHIL ERASMUS.
Phil was an industry icon - being the very first Chairman of the Public Hauliers Association (PHA) -the precursor to the Road freight Association (RFA).
In the late 1950s, Phil drove the initiative at Darling & Hodgson (D&H) to create Tanker Services with the purchase of two tankers to transport hot bitumen. Great demand soon grew from the various municipalities around the Witwatersrand for the transport of similar products.
This prompted D&H to form a separate company, Tanker Services, to continue with this type of business.
Erasmus soon recognised the need for more formal and effective co¬operation amongst the public carriers. He participated in the informal discussions among those most affected by the Railways' attitude and its involvement in the issue of road transport permits. These common interests lead to the formation of the Public Hauliers Association (PHA) in early 1975 by eight of the larger public carriers, its purpose to protect the interests of the member companies.
Apart from the dreaded permit system and fierce competition from the railways motor transport division, another issue faced by the PHA, and the RFA years later, was the formula the Government used to adjust fuel prices, seemingly at a whim, without any apparent justification for the cost inputs and the final price structure. This of course could have a major influence on the running costs of a transporter.
Phil Erasmus was appointed the first Chairman of the fledgling PHA, and served the Association throughout its various identities as the PHA, PCA and the RFA, until his retirement from the transport industry in the mid¬1990s. He was supported by his company's mandate to ensure that the business environ¬ment was friendly and conducive to growth, making money and growing business.
Erasmus also played a major role in the formation of the Public Hauliers Association and its name change to the Public Carriers Association.
He is certainly part of South Africa's road transport heritage.
The RFA is honoured to be associated with the likes of these legendary greats in the road freight industry.
To the family of Phil, our deepest condolences.
Rest in Peace, Phil. Gone - but definitely not forgotten.
