Empowerment logistics company hooks blue-chip clients

Managing director Moses Maboi with one of the company's recently-purchased vehicles É offering the full range of import and export logistics services WHEN MOSES Maboi named his company Katlego Global Logistics, the Sotho word for progressive success, he sent out a strong message. "There was no room for failure," said Maboi, who has seen the empowerment company grow from a one-man show four years ago to a staff of 52 boasting an enviable list of blue-chip customers. But it certainly hasn't been plain sailing for the logistics specialist. Grit and determination with a liberal helping of expertise and service commitment are the ingredients which have made it work. After notching up 14 years in the shipping department of a major exporter of automotive equipment, Maboi could proudly boast an in-depth knowledge of almost every vehicle component. Armed with this expertise, he moved into the logistics field where he was determined to realise his dream of setting up a true black empowerment company. Starting out as a consultant, working from home, he gradually made a name for himself, offering a range of services on an outsourced basis. The turning point came when he won a tender from Standard Bank for the import of highly sophisticated machinery from Dallas, Texas to Johannesburg. "We had it cleared and delivered on time and did such a good job that Standard Bank wrote us a letter of recommendation which became our best sales tool." Katlego now has offices in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg, offering the full range of import and export logistics services, including international freight forwarding, customs clearing, warehousing and national distribution. The company has its own clearing licence and recently added several owned trucks to its previously rented fleet. As business grows, the need for bigger premises is a pressing issue. The long-term plan is to establish its own premises with fully fledged warehousing on site. Maboi's mission however goes beyond bottom line profits. "It's important to be satisfied and happy with what you do, and when I see the happy faces of the staff every morning, I feel that I am making a difference to the country in which I am living."