Maseru’s Interfreight leads with daily Gauteng service

Tlhabedi Africa Segoete Since 1991 Interfreight (Pty) Ltd (Lesotho) has provided the Mountain Kingdom with a full transport, shipping and customs clearing service and is today one of the leading operators of regular transport into and out of Lesotho to the rest of the world. As the Lesotho link with an international logistics network with agents in the Far East and United States, it is the prime Maseru-based transporter. It works directly with its South African counterpart in the network, Interfreight SA in Johannesburg. Having secured contracts to transport exports of textiles overseas and electronic appliances to South Africa, it can offer three-scheduled return horse and trailer services daily between Maseru and Johannesburg, according to managing director, Tlhabedi Africa Segoete. A separate company, Interfreight Logistics, provides the capacity for these trips to handle container loads for Lesotho-based clients. “All companies have the same problem when offering freight services to and from Lesotho – what cargo to carry out of Lesotho as it is not a producer of many products. We have reason to schedule such trips to Gauteng for electronic goods, and Durban, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town to deliver textiles for export. So we can offer a first class and extremely competitive service on the return with mainly South African manufactured goods,” he explains. The company also provides a road link to and from Johannesburg International Airport for airfreight, express airfreight and courier services, as there is no airfreight service that operates into Maseru’s Moshoeshoe1 International Airport. Besides this, it also undertakes significant movement of spare parts for repair and maintenance in South Africa for heavy machinery involved in the Highlands Water Project and other capital projects in the country. Between Lesotho and South Africa, the company has handled any type of cargo with its fleet. Textile freight to the ports of South Africa are destined for the Far East and United States. Its dedicated vehicle fleet includes 8-tonners and horse and trailers. “We are predominantly a road transporters but have used rail where necessary,” Segoete said.