Refrigerated trucks serve Namibia-Gauteng route

With three brand new refrigerated trucks to transport fish and meat from Namibia to various destinations in South Africa, having a foothold in Gauteng is key for Quality Airfreight Services. Established in Cape Town in 1995 as a start-up owner run business, the company initially offered only airfreight between Cape Town and Windhoek in Namibia. But, with unexpected growth, the company saw itself introducing road freight between the two destinations, becoming one of the biggest transporters of time-sensitive freight between Cape Town and Namibia today. According to owner Gary Slamet, given the fact that Namibia imports 80% of its consumption, there is always opportunity in Gauteng, from which most of the country’s imports are generated. “It is important for us to have a strong foothold in the province as competition is stiff.” In the past six months three more refrigerated trucks have been bought after a gap in the market was identified. “These will be used to transport fish and meat from Namibia to Gauteng as well as Mpumalanga, Free State and KwaZulu Natal. The trucks will return to Namibia with dry goods that are not necessarily urgently required by our customers. Already the service has been welcomed with open arms,” said Slamet, who expects to expand the fleet in the near future. He says Gauteng remains a challenge. “We have to pick up 150 plus parcels a day in the province for different clients, taking the usual quota of highway accidents and other traffic issues into account.” One van leaves Cape Town every evening with around 2000 kg of express freight destined for various destinations in Namibia, while 8000kg of normal freight is moved once or twice a week. “We have seen major growth in the past few years, and continue to do so,” says Slamet. “The economic downturn has had an impact on South Africa and Namibia, and our business, but not as severe as in manufacturing countries.”