Baheso Brickmaking was established in 2011 by a group of five women from disadvantaged backgrounds.
AFRISAM handed over an eight-ton truck to Baheso Brickmaking, a black woman-managed multipurpose co-operative that produces and sells SABS certified cement bricks, in Kimberley on Monday.
AfriSam is a leading cement and construction materials producer.
Baheso Brickmaking was established in November 2011 by a group of five women from disadvantaged backgrounds, who saw the need to create employment in the impoverished Galeshewe township.
Several housing developments initiated by the government and the private sector in the past few years have increased the demand for bricks throughout the Northern Cape. Baheso identified and bridged that gap by producing cost-effective, quality bricks for those projects.
AfriSam believes that the truck will help take the SMME to greater heights.
The truck has the potential to make deliveries quicker, securer and easier and to cut down on costs.
Baheso currently employs 10 permanent workers and is geared for more growth with the donation of the truck.
The company has also trained unemployed youth, equipping them with brick making skills.
The managing director of Baheso Brickmaking, Amelia Seile, expressed excitement and gratitude for what AfriSam has done for them.
Seile said the truck will solve many of their existing challenges, increase productivity and improve their overall delivery time.
“We used to hire transport, but we will now be able to provide customers with a reliable door-to-door delivery service,” said Seile.
It was highlighted during the handover that the company had in the past lost a few “big clients” as it did not have reliable transport to move its material.
“We are confident that we will be able to retain old clients, attract new ones and be involved in bigger projects and create more jobs,” said Seile.
The general manager of AfriSam’s Ulco operation, Johan Fourie, said they see value in developing SMMEs as potential customers and partners in community development and job creation.
“We hope that Baheso Brickmaking remains resilient and grows stronger in the market to employ more people,” said Fourie.
