Timber and textiles still big Swazi movers

Swaziland transport firms
have had to adjust to the
fortunes of the country’s
textile industries, which have
suffered from global competition
and the current recession, lowering
volumes of inputs transported to the
factories and finished goods going
out.
For ten years, textiles have
been the driver of the country’s
manufacturing sector. But
Swaziland has other items to
transport that have withstood the
economic decline.
“Sugar, some textiles still,
timber, fertiliser, coal, and
food-stuffs – these are the big
movers,” said Sikelela Vilakati,
managing director of Chrisilda
Transport in Matsapha.
Chrisilda’s record of moving
textiles brought in business from
Swaziland’s sister textile firms in
Lesotho, now a regular route for
the company from Johannesburg
and Botswana. The only Swaziowned
breakbulk carrier makes the
five-hour trip from Matsapha to
Durban and back every day.
A fleet of 42 vehicles, comprising
flat decks and side tipper trailers,
are maintained in a fully fledged
workshop within the company yard
adjacent to its offices.
“Other than clothing, Swaziland
has relatively few things to
ferry out, though the potential is
there. We move a lot of timber
to Johannesburg, beverages from
Johannesburg to Maputo, and do
odd loads of sugar. But there is
potential. Illovo (sugar plantation)
is expanding and will be exporting
more,” said Vilakati.
“The investments these
companies are making in their
operations show they are here
to stay and there will be more
business for transporters in
future,” said Vilakati. “We have
the capacity to service the whole
of Swaziland and more. As such,
we are exploring new avenues by
going into Africa.”
While other road transport
firms tend to import cargo into
the country, Chrisilda services
Swaziland in both directions,
finding products to export.
“We prefer full loads, although
we do partial loads – but as you
know that means quite a number
of stops and paperwork, yet turnaround
time is of the essence in
our industry. We are in a very
competitive industry and to survive
you have to cut down on dead
kilometres at all costs,”
said Vilakati.