Global Partnerships: South Africa

Ken Bailey, TankSafe® South Africa’s managing director.

How long have you been in business with TankSafe®? 
I’ve been a distributor since 2010, and a joint venture partner since 2018.

What attracted you to becoming a TankSafe® partner?
A great product, commercial value proposition, management team, and history!

Please tell us a little more about your operation in your market.
South Africa has high levels of fuel theft with many disgruntled drivers seeing fuel theft as a second income.

Telematics and fuel level probes have proven they can identify fuel theft but they can’t stop it. SA sells 21k heavy and extra heavy commercial trucks per year.

What has been your biggest achievement so far?
Daimler Trucks Southern Africa assembly plant started fitting TankSafe Optimum and SenderSafe to the Mercedes Benz Actros range  in April 2022.

What’s on your wishlist for the next 5 years at TankSafe®?
Within 5 years we want to have >60% HCV market share of OEM fuel security fitments in SA.

Away from leading TankSafe® growth in South Africa, what do you enjoy doing socially?
My wife and I are Formula 1 fanatics and like to entertain friends on the Sunday of the race, incorporating a traditional meal from the country where the race is taking place.

I support our national Springbok or local Sharks rugby teams. When I get the chance - deep sea game fishing or freshwater fly fishing. My wife and I are both Christians; we attend church regularly and socialise with like-minded people.

If you could pick any three famous people in the world, alive or deceased, to have a few drinks and dinner with, who would they be?
Jesus, my dad and Richard Branson.