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.