Bereng Mpaki
THE management of Bashoeshoe Pele Vehicle Fleet say they are determined to cater for all the country’s transport needs to ensure the service is not outsourced.
According to the company’s Managing Director Bashoeshoe Pele Poppie Madonsela, the provision of transport services by a local firm empowers Basotho and enables them to benefit from a sector mostly dominated by foreign businesses.
The wholly Basotho-owned Bashoeshoe Pele Vehicle Fleet was founded in 2015 and provides a wide range of transport services for the local market.
Ms Madonsela said they hire different types of vehicles from Basotho across the country’s 10 districts.
The pooled vehicles, which include sedans, bakkies, mini buses, lorries, motor bikes and plant machinery among others, are then hired out to organisations or individuals.
“Our aim is to make car rentals, hiring, chauffeur services, tour guide services, organised group travels, school transport and general purpose transport-related services more accessible and convenient to all sectors of business such as government departments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), private businesses, cooperatives and individuals.”
She said the company aimed to capacitate Basotho by helping them make a living from the transport sector.
“We hire vehicles from individuals and the general public seeking to make a living in the transport industry. We only hire vehicles that belong to Basotho as stated in our company name,” said Ms Madonsela.
“Our aim is to empower Basotho so they can benefit from the opportunities that are available in Lesotho.”
She said the response by Basotho to the company since its founding had been “phenomenal”.
“The support from Basotho has been quite phenomenal so far, because we have many members from the 10 districts of the country registered with us. At the moment, we have registered about 900 vehicles that are ready to start work,” Ms Madonsela said.
“Over and above that, we have many registered members who are ready to buy the types of vehicles needed by the market. That means we have more than 900 vehicles to supply so far.”
The company has already secured contracts to supply vehicles to a number of government ministries including the Ministry of Development Planning during the 2016 Population and Housing Census which needed over 200 vehicles earlier this year. It supplied vehicles to the Foreign Affairs and International Relations as well as Public Works and Transport ministries
Bashoeshoe Pele has also supplied vehicles to NGOs such as Population Services International and Lesotho Planned Parenthood Association among others.
Ms Madonsela also stressed that Bashoeshoe Pele made sure all vehicles registered with the firm were insured and under constant surveillance through tracking devices to protect both the vehicles and their passengers.
She said Bashoeshoe Pele was ready to cater for the government’s vehicle fleet needs.
“We believe that we have what it takes to supply the 1 200 vehicles the government requires. We can easily meet that figure since I have already indicated we have members who have not yet bought vehicles only because they don’t know the types of cars that are needed,” Ms Madonsela said.
“As soon as we get a contract detailing the cars needed, our people can buy and supply enough vehicles for the entire government fleet. “Financial institutions are also ready to assist our registered members if they need loans to buy cars.”
She said one of the motivating factors for establishing the company was supplying the government with locally-owned vehicles.
“The formation of this company was greatly influenced by government statements through Finance Minister Dr ‘Mamphono Khaketla urging Basotho to form companies to stand a chance of being awarded the tender to supply the government with vehicles,” said Ms Madonsela.
“The minister said this last year after awarding the government fleet tender to Bidvest Car Rental for six months. So we are hopeful of getting the chance to provide our fleet management services to the government in future.”