Warehousing facility Kwela
Logistics has recorded
significant growth,
despite recent hard times,
according to commercial
and administration manager
Manie Kruger.
Previously well known
as a large Leyland vehicle
plant, the site was stripped
in 2003 and Kwela Logistics
took the extensive property
over ‘for a song’, with a
staff of six and a mere five
customers.
Situated within easy
reach of Cape Town,
Stellenbosch and Paarl,
today the company has
grown to a customer base of
130 and about 50 staff.
Plans are currently under
way to open a bonded
(export) warehouse early
next year.
“We are most optimistic
about the future,” says
Kruger.
“Negotiations with Sars
Customs and Excise are
under way right now for
the storage of duty-free
imported cargo, and we
believe that this would
make Kwela the only such
facility in Cape Town.”
Kwela is a 100% owned
subsidiary, its business
being in third-party
warehousing and local
distribution handled by its
own fleet.
The business currently
operates out of two
warehouses: Blackheath
(14 000m2) in the Western
Cape, and Pomona (4500m2)
in Gauteng.
Storing anything from pet
food and crockery to gas
cylinders and generators,
Kwela is a licensed food
storage facility and adheres
to all safety requirements
and Sars regulations.
Just two years ago a wine
store was added which has
proved an ideal site for the
local wineries.
The management
team comprising Lionel
Karshagen (general
manager), Stephen
Pugh (logistics and
operations), and Manie
Kruger (commercial
and administration), has
notched up over 100 years’
experience in the industry
between them.
Last year Kwela expanded
business to Johannesburg
which, according to Pugh,
is still in the growing
stages.
“Obviously we have
suffered from the recession
and everyone has been
cutting back. This has been
our toughest time yet, but
we are pleased that our
customer base has remained
unchanged and we have
managed to expand to
Johannesburg.”
“Kwela” is a Xhosa word
meaning “Let’s Get On”, an
appropriate slogan for the
up and coming business.
Kwela plans bonded warehouse in CT
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