BACK ROW L-R: Stephen Duncan, Dr. Sello Motaung, Sifiso Vincent Shongwe, Templeton (Pops) Mageza,
Lauryn Duncan FRONT ROW L-R: Jonathan Duncan, John Duncan Snr, Prince Muzi Dlamini, Darren Duncan
Fixtrade 726 (Pty) Ltd, a black owned Investment Company chaired by Prince Thumbumuzi Dlamini has acquired a 26% equity interest in SA Ladder, a family owned manufacturing company that produces ladders, alloy wheels, hydraulic forklifts, trolleys and diverse components for the building, mining and retail industries.
The transaction will result in Fixtrade appointing two directors to the board of SA Ladder. To facilitate further value the parties have entered into a separate management service agreement in terms of which the empowerment partners will provide active man-hours participating in operations.
Fixtrade shareholders include medical practitioner, Dr. Sello Motaung and practicing attorney Templeton Mageza as well as a women’s investment group. The deal was concluded in April 2006.
SA Ladder was founded in 1992 by John Duncan, (presently assisted by family members Jonathan, Darren, Cathryn, Lauryn, Stephen and Erlo) and has grown into a company with a national footprint in ladders, castors, access and materials handling equipment with offices throughout the country. The company employs more than 400 people, and currently has in excess of 50% market share in fibreglass and aluminium ladders, trolleys and industrial castor market.
The new shareholders are as follows:
MUZI DLAMINI
Non-Executive Chairman
Muzi Dlamini joins the company as non-executive chairman.
He holds B.Sc and M.S.A. degrees in Business administration, both obtained from Boston University in the USA. Muzi has extensive experience in organizational development and is an expert in local and international trade between developing and developed nations.
He is presently involved with “Mandela, Dlamini & Associates” (MDA) which specializes in international and local business consulting services to companies and private organizations in the Americas, Europe, Scandanavia, Asia and Africa.
MDA lobbies foreign companies for investment in Southern African markets and assists them with entry strategies whilst at the same time facilitating the movement of South African companies bank into the global markets.
Muzi spent 11 years at the Central Bank of Swaziland, where he served in both operations and administrative functions. Other positions held in the past include Vice President of International Marketing at Societe Generale, Research Advisor for International Trade Bank in London, responsible for promoting and managing inter-regional African trade.
He has served as Non-Executive Director for a number of listed companies including South African Druggist Corporation (SAD), International Automobile Association (AA), FRANSAF (a French Group), CARBRIOB International (a multinational Danish Engineering Group) and EB Energy Steam International.
Together with his wife, Princess Zenani Mandela, he has represented his in-laws, former President Nelson Mandela and Winnie Madikizela Mandela and his brother, King Mswati 111 of Swaziland at numerous functions with world leaders in royal household and businesses, world wide.
JOHN DUNCAN
CEO
Founder and CEO of SA Ladder has a wealth of experience in the industry, and will lead the new board and company into an exciting future. John is very upbeat over the future of the company and is very ably assisted by the following existing Directors.
JONATHAN DUNCAN
Sales & Marketing Director
Jonathan is married and has twin boys. He studied Business Management and obtained his diploma in 1992, and then obtained his IMM Diploma in Marketing Management in 1997. He joined SA Ladder in 1994 as Area Manager for Natal. In 1995 he became Branch Manager for SA Ladder Durban and also established a retail outlet under the banner of Mr. Ladder. During 1996 Jonathan relocated to Johannesburg where he assumed responsibilities as National Sales Manager.
In 1998 he was appointed to the board of SA Ladder as Sales & Marketing Director. Since then Jonathan has had a major influence on the growth and development of SA Ladder, primarily in the retail positioning of the company. To his credit, he has revolutionized the buying patterns of the major chain stores in South Africa. Jonathan has travelled extensively in both Europe and the United States where product knowledge and development was acquired. He has served on the Technical Committee of the SABS and also provided input on the development of product specifications for Eskom and Telkom. In 2002 Jonathan became a Director and Shareholder of Hirst Handling and Silver Services. During 2003 he was appointed to the board of Mouldwell Rubber & Urethane.
In 2007 Jonathan successfully completed the Executive Development Programme through Wits Business School.
He was invited to attend the International Executive Development Programme in London, but was unable to attend due to business commitments
DARREN DUNCAN
Financial Director
Darren is married and has two children. He commenced his CA degree in 1993 and completed his articles with Deloitte & Touche from 1997 to 1999. In January 2000 he was seconded to New York by Deloitte and Touche. Upon his return in February 2000, he joined SA Ladder as Financial Manager. During 2000 Darren was appointed to the board of SA Ladder as Financial Director. In 2002 he became a Director and Shareholder of Hirst Handling and Silver Services. During 2003 he was appointed to the board of Mouldwell Rubber & Urethane.
SELLO MOTAUNG
Shareholder
Stephen Duncan
Alternate Director
Stephen Duncan joined SA Ladder 5 years ago shortly after completing a post high school diploma. He is currently completing a Bcom Business Management Degree through Unisa correspondance. Stephen gained experience in SA Ladder Polyurethane plant and is now involved in distribution and production. Stephen worked himself into a managerial positionand in 2006 was appointed to the position of Alternate Director.
TEMPLETON
(POPS) MAGEZA
Shareholder
Templeton (Pops) Mageza was admitted as a practicing attorney of the high court in June 1992.
He holds a LLB Degree from Rhodes University.
He commenced practice for his own account from 1992 as Mageza and Partners Inc. Between 1992 and 1995, Pops practiced primarily as a Human Rights Lawyer engaged with the task of representing, in that period, hundreds of political activists, many of whom are currently in government and or parliament. From 1995 the practice grew substantially, and he began to concentrate on commercial and corporate law, representing parastatals such as Transnet, Telkom and local government.
He was involved with several privatizations as advisor, including Metro Gas and Kelvin Power A and B. From 1996 he increasingly became involved as founder, shareholder and director of several companies. Established as founder and shareholder CEIN (Consolidated Empowerment Initiative) in 1996, and an IT company consisting of 7 other shareholder companies. CEIN secured CISCO dealership rights for southern Africa. These rights were later sold to Persetel/Comparex. Pops founded the Global Resorts Casino Empowerment Group in 1996. The group included Mineworker Investment Company and Womens Development Bank and several other promoters. The group currently owns Caesars and Graceland Casinos. Founder of a coal mining BEE investment group with a 30% equity stake in Graspan and Geduld coal mines (Middelburg, Mpumalanga).
SIFISO SHONGWE
Shareholder
Sifiso Shongwe has extensive corporate and project finance experience which he acquired whilst working for financial institutions in the USA, UK and South Africa.
In the USA he spent 2 years as a financial analyst for Colonial Bank, where he was responsible for Project Finance Funding and Corporate Funding. He later moved to Amsouth Bank where he worked as a Financial Analyst within Treasury in the Profitability Reporting Group. In 2001 he returned to South Africa and took up a position as Manger for Special Projects at Kagiso Financial Services and NM Rothschild and Sons. One of the major projects he was involved in, was advising the Gauteng provincial government on the ten billion Rand Gauteng Rapid Rail Link Project as part of the Rapid Rail Train Project he was seconded for a period of eight months to NM Rothschild and Sons (Co-Advisors on the train) in London.
Whilst in London he was part of a team that advised the Department of Health in reviewing options for the Department to invest in public-private partnership hospital projects. He was also part of the team that advised a private equity fund on the development of a public-private partnership fund. The other objective for the secondment was to develop and understanding of the European PPP and European project finance markets by having meetings with local players and performing market research on European projects that are in the development and operational stage, eg. Euro Tunnel and London Underground. He holds a B.Sc in Financial Management and Investment from the University of Alabama in Birmingham, USA
With the 26% Equity Sale, SA Ladder has been elevated to a Level 3 BEE rating.
This will, however, improve as other requirements are met.
Growth continues at a phenomenal rate due to an upsurge in the building and retail industries.
All products manufactured by SA Ladder conform to both local and international standards.
SA Ladder manufactures various products under the following brand names:
- Gravity - Aluminium Ladders
- Superlite - Fibreglass Ladders
- Eezeeroll - Wheels and Castors
- Eezeescaff - Aluminium and steel scaffolding
- Eezeethane - Polyurethane Wheels
- Eezeelift - Warehouse and Materials Handling Equipment
- Eezeelastic - Rubber Wheels with the Blue Trim
- MRU - Urethane and Rubber Products
- Silver Services - Metal Platers and Galvanizers
EEZEEROLL
Castors for loads from 10kg up to 10 000kg. Our helpful, well informed sales staff will recommend the best castor for the job. Castors are available in various formats i.e. swivel, fixed and brake castors. For brake castors customers have a choice between wheel brakes, integrated brakes, lock wheels and swivel bearing, thumb screw brakes, directional locks convert a swivel castor to a fixed castor, when necessary. In certain applications castors are available with either bolt hole or plate fittings. When calling for castors the following information will help us to help you; total load to be carried including weight of trolley, floor condition, floor surface, application, hand pushed or towed, where used etc, static, intermittent or intensive use or any special conditions like dust, moisture, chemicals, extreme temperatures. Our castors are available with a variety of wheels, easily the biggest range available in Southern Africa. Whatever the application we are confident we have the solution.
EEZEEROLL TROLLEYS AND ROLL STEPS
Eezeeroll trolleys and roll steps are manufactured from top quality, hot rolled mild steel tubing. The majority of our products are electro plated for maximum corrosion protection. For use indoors, outdoors, warehouses, supermarkets and even on delivery vehicles. We manufacture a comprehensive range of two and four wheel trolleys to carry anything from beer crates to sacks to gas bottles.
EEZEELIFT
Electronic and manual pallet trucks available with nylon or polyurethane rollers. Manual pallet trucks are the answer to pallet handling without tying up expensive equipment like forklifts. Also available with scale and printer. When pallets need to travel long distances, our range of traction driven, walk-behind and ride-on pallet trucks ensure maximum productivity at a reasonable price.
EEZEESCAFF
Aluminium and steel scaffolding, our easy scaffold self lock steel scaffold frames don’t require bolts and nuts or other time consuming assembly methods and are a winner when it comes to saving time and money. Although aluminium scaffolding is more expensive, the one man assembly and dismantling makes a lot of sense for artisans, maintenance staff, painters and sign writers. Whatever your scaffolding requirements call us now.
EEZEELIFT STACKERS AND ORDER PICKERS
Stackers are generally split into 3 groups: manual lift with push pull hand operation, electric lift with push pull hand operation semi-electric, electric lift with traction drive system, ride on or walk behind. Manual stackers take a maximum of 1 ton, up to 1.6 meters and are the most economical option. Semi-electric stackers take a load of up to 1.5 tons to heights between 1.6 meters and 3.5 meters. Traction driven stackers are for travelling long distances either as walk behind or ride-on units. A maximum load rating of 2 tons is available with various heights up to 4.5 meters.
EEZEESTOR
Tough durable EEZEESTOR bins are manufactured from high quality materials. They are available with wall mounted panels, single or double sided free standing units, mobile units or can simply be stacked on top of one another. EEZEESTOR bins are available in a range of colours ie red, blue, yellow, green, white or grey. Please contact your nearest branch for bins or storage systems not shown.
EEZEEROLL CONVEYERS
All options including gravity and motorized systems automate your production lines, stores and despatch, placement rollers are also available.
GRAVITY ALUMINIUM LADDERS
GRAVITY ladders conform to the following specifications SABS 1304/1980, M Spec 276 E and T 2182. GRAVITY ladders are available with various load ratings, Type 3 household, Type 2 industrial, Type 1 heavy duty industrial, Type 1 A extra heavy duty industrial (136 kg). GRAVITY ladders are available in various configurations, step ladders, folding wonder ladders, single pole ladders, multipurpose step extension ladders, push up extension ladders, rope operated extension ladders.
SUPERLITE FIBREGLASS LADDERS
SUPERLITE fibreglass ladders conform to the following specifications ANSI 14.5, ASHA, CSA, SCSSCABF 1, SABS 1304/1980, T1768 and BBGB 0868 Version 1 SUPERLITE fibreglass ladders are available in various load ratings. Type 1 heavy duty industrial, Type 1 A extra heavy duty industrial. SUPERLITE fibreglass ladders are available in various configurations, step ladders with fibreglass sides and aluminium treads, step ladders with fibreglass sides and treads and aluminium rivets, step ladders with fibreglass sides and treads and stainless steel rivets, single pole ladders with fibreglass sides and aluminium treads, single pole ladders with fibreglass sides and treads, multipurpose step extension ladders, push up extension ladders, rope operated extension ladders.
The SA Ladder range of products are constantly being improved and expanded. Our fully trained staff are able to fulfil your needs, but we are far from complacent, by striving for improvements both in product and knowledge we are able to maintain our position as leaders
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
SA Ladder has entered the New-Year with some exciting developments. Their commitment to the castor market has resulted in the acquisition of state-of-the-art machinery and equipment for the manufacture of wheels and castor components. Not only has this move enabled the company to become one of the largest wheel and castor manufacturers on the continent, it has also brought about significant cost savings that are passed directly on to the consumer.
The company’s efforts in the aluminium scaffolding market have been very successful and this market continues to grow at a good rate.
The company also ventured into the fruit picking ladder market with a sturdier, more economical product, and this segment continues to grow well.
In an effort to overcome the problems experienced by individuals who are required to carry heavy Fibreglass ladders, tests were done and a world-first profile was manufactured.
The new profile reduces the weight of an extra heavy-duty ladder by more than 30%, yet provides adequate stability. In addition to a reduction in weight, the price of the ladder has shown a similar drop.
The company entered the supermarket/store trolley market and once again, good growth was experienced.
A further growth area for the company is the Materials Handling market.
SA Ladder supplies conveyor systems, fork lifts, pallet trucks, stackers and a range of ancillary equipment.
The company’s export division is showing good growth, and volumes are increasing steadily.
The company is also working towards an ISO listing.
This will assist in the continuous efforts to improve service, quality and performance.
The management and staff are very up-beat regarding the performance and growth of the company and various new complimentary directions are being vigorously explored.
Branch & Warehouse Distribution
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