WINDHOEK – Always having a positive attitude and approach, YPS Computer Services has been in business for the past four years. New Era’s Tender Reporter Steven Klukowski spoke to the owner, Petrus Salim Shonghela on how he has managed to survive in this highly competitive field of the information technology sector.
New Era (NE): How long has YPS Computer Services been in existence and how big is the company’s workforce? If possible, please tell us about the gender composition in your workforce.
Petrus Salim Shonghela (PSS): This company has been in existence since 2011 and we are currently only two guys running the show.
NE: Tell us about the shareholding or ownership of the business?
PSS: I am the sole owner of this business.
NE: What business is your company involved in?
PSS: YPS Computer Services specialises in computer and printer repairs and maintenance, software installations as well as the supply, delivery and installation of computers and related software.
NE: Being a four-year old company, what challenges are you experiencing when applying for standard mandatory, good standing certificates at Inland Revenue, Social Security, trade and industry, etc?
PSS: I do not experience any problems to obtain these documents.
NE: What is your view with regard to the frequent reporting about ‘tenderpreneurship’ and the association of the phrase with corruption in the tender process and what can be done to address it?
PSS: It is not good and denies small companies possible opportunities to grow. More fairness should be applied during the procurement process whereby tenders should be awarded to the best-evaluated companies as opposed to friends or family.
NE: Some Namibian companies are increasingly entering into joint ventures with foreign companies. How, in your view, can Namibians benefit out of these joint ventures in terms of employment opportunities and sharing of wealth?
PSS: Firstly, I believe that the local shareholding percentage should be higher in these joint ventures. A continuous process of skills transfer should furthermore be implemented whereby the unskilled workforce should consist mainly of Namibians while only specialist foreign employees should be accommodated.
NE: What programmes are in place in terms of skills development and capacity building of employees at your company?
PSS: I share my knowledge and skills with my employees and empower them by means of in-service training.
NE: What is your company’s view on giving back to the community?
PSS: My company is still growing and not yet financially in a position to plough back to the community, but this is something I will definitely look into at a later stage.
NE: What is the rate of success of your company’s output with regard to tenders being awarded to you?
PSS: No tenders have been awarded to YPS Computer Services till now. Some ministries do, however, provide me, at times with, small jobs on quotation. We also take on repair and maintenance jobs from the general public.
NE: Do your employees belong to a pension fund and medical aid scheme, and if not in which way are they assisted in this regard?
PSS: We are registered with the Social Security Commission and will at a later stage obtain medical aid and pension benefits.
NE: How well equipped are your employees when it comes to occupational health and safety at the workplace?
PSS: As we are operating in a purely IT environment, no significant measures are in place in terms of occupational health and safety at the workplace apart from conforming to standard procedures applicable to such environment.
NE: Any innovative ideas you might have tested before that you want to share with the readers?
PSS: Yes, I am having a lot of redundant desktop computer parts in my workshop. At one stage I decided to convert these parts into obsolete jukeboxes and will very soon start selling them as a means of generating income.
NE: Anything else you want to mention?
PSS: Yes, I just want to emphasize the fact that you can only survive in this tender business through full commitment, dedication and sacrifices. Prospective entrepreneurs should also be cautious not to take on too many areas (construction, IT, engineering, etc.) at the same time, as they might burn their fingers in the process.