At the early age of 16 I was forced to leave school in my fourth month of Std. 9 (Grade 11). I then started as a labourer at AJAX Dye casting Engineers. After being employed for 1½ years the CEO of the company approached me and sent me away for an aptitude test, which I successfully completed and thereafter got a 5 year apprenticeship at the company (AJAX) with immediate effect.
My contract commenced at 1961 for a five year period and was offered a salary of 2 pound 18 per week for the first year. The company then sent me to Oliphant’s Fontein for a trade test which I have completed with a B symbol. After completion they made me a qualified toolmaker. So I was the first black qualified Toolmaker. I continued to work for Ajax for 16 years and during that time had the privilege to train9 apprenticeships qualifying under my supervision of which some passed their trade test as Oliphant’s Fontein and the latter at Lakeside Trade Centre.
After the 16 years of employment at Ajax, I was employed by various other companies to increase my knowledge. I gained knowledge and experience in a wide field; namely, jig fixture, press tools, instrumental, gravity and pressure dye casting.
I went into the field of Plastic Injection Moulding which I started at a company named, DRG Exactics and numerous other Plastic Injection companies.
After venturing in these various field for 28 years, I decided to start my own toolroom workshop, trading under the name, “Maranatha Mould Tech”, which was productive for 7 years and took a brake while doing freelance work for companies on request.
I restarted a company namely, L&G Precision Toolmaking cc, which I am currently still in sole ownership of.