Chrisilda plans Jo’burg and Maputo offices

An expanding variety of cargo shipped over-border this year has prompted Chrisilda Transport to think of opening offices in Maputo and Johannesburg. “Diversifying is a vital key to survival and growth these days. Reliance on one customer is like treading on thin ice,” says managing director Sikelela Vilakati. “After upgrading our fleet by spending R24 million rand on new truck tractors, we had to explore new destinations over and above our Durban–Swaziland routes. Our new routes include Johannesburg to Maputo, and we will be adding the Johannesburg to Zambia route soon,” Vilakati told FTW. “The ever-increasing price of fuel is a major threat to our business as most clients have difficulty in adjusting rates mid-year to accommodate fuel escalations. This is common in companies where decision makers are based overseas, and we are forced to absorb the increases while they seek authorisation. Another major threat to our growth is the quality of the fuel we source outside the SADC region as it never blends well with injectors – diesel specs should be universal,” said Vilakati. Chrisilda maintains a fleet of 34 crossborder trucks and seven timber trucks. A message to all transporters and aspiring transporters would be “push for Swazi borders to operate 24/7.”