Panel beater 'pushed' out in the cold
MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
Staff Writer
| Thursday August 7, 2008 00:00
His panel beating business in Gaborone, had been raking in something in excess of P300 000 a month, or well over P3.6 million a year, thanks to government support. The 31-year-old businessman had been doing jobs for the various district councils, as well as getting business from private companies and individuals.
But lately, Botshelo of the self-styled Kabs Pty Ltd has seen his riches disappear like morning dew over the last three months. He says business came to a standstill when the warehouse owner gave him a three-month notice to vacate their G-West Industrial premises where he had been paying P4, 000 rent a month.
Botshelo has already lost his eight workers - mechanics and drivers, who have gone to look for jobs elsewhere as there is no work for them at the warehouse. The last two months have particularly been miserable for the youthful entrepreneur.
When the sun set on Tuesday Botshelo, who hails from Mochudi where he opened his first panel beating workshop, appeared to have run out of ideas as to what to do with so many vehicles awaiting panel beating.
While the mangled vehicles lay there waiting to be panel beaten the workshop, only a few metres away, was being swept and repainted, as a new tenant prepared to move in.
Botshelo says he has been running up and down looking for warehouses to rent, but to no avail. 'I even checked the BDC (Botswana Development Corporation); I checked for warehouses in other towns, there is nothing. My head is aching now what can I do with all these cars? The jobs are worth a lot of money', he said as he displayed purchase orders from various district councils.
With no where to go, by Tuesday this week Botshelo had towed his vehicles outside the yard and parked them by the roadside just outside what was once his workshop. What if thieves come and tow them away at night? What if thieves break in and steal valuable spare parts? He just had to have faith in God and hope nobody steals or vandalises the property.
'It has been the most difficult time of my life. Some of the cars I had to tow them to a friend's garage in Tlokweng. Some parts I transported them to my house in Mochudi. I had no choice but to tow other vehicles and park them by the roadside. I have been paying rent, I never defaulted. But a big client has promised to pay the landlord lots of money, so I was kicked out,' claims the young businessman.
Botshelo fears that before long clients might come and take their vehicles to another panel beater. Worse still, he fears that after the disappointments of the last two months it will be uphill battle convincing clients to come back if he manages to find a warehouse somewhere.