This follows on the heels of the R300-million Lesotho National Development Corporation (LNDC) property portfolio contract awarded to JHI in July 2001.

Speaking at the official launch of JHI's Lesotho office, Letuka Sephelane, finance controller of the LNDC, commented that outsourcing the management of their property portfolio was not a decision taken lightly. However, since doing so, LNDC had enjoyed financial buoyancy and a boost in job creation due to the use of local service providers.

Jay Junkoon, JHI property management director (Africa), said JHI is continuing its drive to transfer skills via JHI-based education programmes and to employ local staff, as well as use local service providers.

At present 90% of the staff in the Lesotho office are local Basotho and there is a plan in place to increase this to 100%.