Roadfreight stalwart expands fleet

In a textbook manner, the shakeup in Swaziland’s road freight industry has left the hearty survivors in a strengthened position. “It started with the closure of Sappi’s operations here two years ago. Companies that were dependent on their work with Sappi went under. A lot of companies do work for government, and cannot get paid because of the government financial crisis. They may not make it,” said Sikelela Vilakati, managing director of Chrisilda’s Transport Company. A long-established firm with a roster of varied clientele, Chrisilda was one of the road cargo companies positioned to assume business orphaned when a global economic downturn, lessening investment in Swaziland and the shuttering of Sappi and some other large companies forced the closure of some road freight companies, even older ones of Chrisilda’s vintage. Agents actively engaging business from Johannesburg and Durban and a strategy to correct the imbalance of imports/exports into and out of the country has ensured a good year for the company. “The continued strengthening of the rand/lilangeni against major foreign currencies, coupled with the global economic recession, has had an adverse effect on exports. Besides such challenges we still have a good clientele in Swaziland. “Being a seasoned player in the field, we keep going year by year. Already this year I increased our fleet by seven units, and next year we are looking at upgrading and also expanding our fleet,” Vilakati said.