Senwes Scenario August / September 2017 | Page 10

•••• AREA F O C U S Eastern Cape now Senwes Equipment country PEOPLE FROM THE PLATTELAND USUALLY ASSOCIATE THE EASTERN CAPE WITH HOLIDAYS AND FUN. HOWEVER, SENWES EQUIPMENT AND JOHN DEERE ARE HERE FOR THEIR PRODUCERS. AUBREY KRUGER W hen you drive through this beautiful area, you seem to be entering a fairyland when you cross the Orange River. The mountains make you think of Heidi and Peter’s mountains. But let’s talk about Aliwal North first. ALIWAL NORTH Senwes has been expanding in the Eastern Cape since 2016, with branches in Aliwal North and Ugie. Senwes Scenario went to explore the area. The name Aliwal North was given by Sir Harry Smith, gover­ nor of the Cape Colony at the time. The name was as a result of his triumph over the Sikhs at the Battle of Aliwal in India during the first Sikh war in 1846. The town was founded in 1849. Strangely enough, during those days Mosselbay used to be known as Aliwal-South. SENWES’ SUCCESS STORY The Aliwal North branch of Senwes Equipment opened its doors exactly a year ago, on The Senwes Equipment branch in Aliwal North is right next to the N6. Office personnel: Here are Daniëlle van Vuuren (Jobcard Clerk), Nelis van Heerden (Branch Manager) and Yolanda van Heerden (Head Administration). 8 AUG/SEP 2017 • SENWES Scenario 1 August 2017. Branch manager Nelis van Heerden is very proud of this expansion in the Eastern Cape since he is from the area and he has been involved from the very beginning. He came from Bloemfontein in 2014 and started to work as technician. Nelis and his assistant, George Mosala, started at the same time - “It was only the two of us.” George has passed away in the meantime - he worked with Nelis for seven years. Senwes Equipment bought the branch and opened it on 1 August 2016. Nelis was a Senwes technician in Bloemfontein for almost a year, from May 2004, before he was appointed as branch manager at Aliwal North in May 2004. Workshop staff at Aliwal North: Here are Walter Sauer (Tractor Technician), Lloyd Matiya (General Worker) and Paul du Randt (Apprentice).