Albert Service Station celebrates 80 years

Over the years it has changed hands from fathers to sons.

When the original Alberton Service Station and Tampico Road House were started by Albert Terblanche in 1906, these two businesses became landmarks for everyone travelling through Alberton to the South Coast.

Situated on the corner of Voortrekker Road and Ring Road West, being a landmark still rings true, not only for Albertonians but also for newcomers into Alberton from the N12, needing directions into the CBD or residential areas.

The late Gert Basson bought the service station in 1944 and took occupation of the premises on June 8 of that year while the Billis family took over the roadhouse, which burnt down in 1972.

At that time the service station was multi-branded and some of the older folk will remember names like Pegasus, Satmar, Mobil, Shell and Atlantic.

Gerrie, his wife Chrissie and Elias Motseneng, were the only staff running the business initially.

The service station became a Shell-only service station in 1952 when oil companies decided on single-branded sites.

In 1959 Gerrie built a second building and forecourt adjacent to the original structure leaving the mechanical workshop in the original building. A lubrication bay and spares division was added to the new building.

In 1958 Gerrie rented the Atlantic Service Station across the road from the existing business and made the two Shell forecourts look like a unit when cladding was added around the two existing buildings in 1964.

In 1980 a decision was taken to demolish all the buildings and erect the current buildings as it stands today.

The brothers, Leon and Michael Basson joined the family business in 1967 and 1972 respectively. Leon was active in the admin and spares and Michael in the workshop and technical division.

In 1985 the brothers bought the business with their father acting as the chairperson.

Gerrie passed away in 1988 and Chrissie continued in the business with their two sons. Chrissie passed away in 1999.

Today, this is still a family affair with Leon’s daughter and son, and Michael’s son managing the service station and workshop which is still run on the same principles initiated by Gerrie in 1944 – loyalty and honesty to the brand and customers.

Gerrie also taught everyone that turnover and profit were not the same. Having started his business fresh out of the outfitting industry, he quickly found being prudent and careful was how you manage your money; the profit will take care of itself.

Gerrie left a legacy of not buying anything if you could not pay for it in cash. This principle is still applied in the business today.

The future is in Leon and Michael’s children.

“We have a remarkable legacy to carry forward and will do our best to do exactly that,” said Leon.

“Although times are tough and the scenario ever-changing, we will remain optimistic.”

The Basson family thanked their many friends and clients for their support over all these years.

“Without these people, we would not have achieved what we have today. We lost our oldest client, Germano Ribeiro (92) on April 22 this year, after a 71-year journey,” said Leon.

“And, if some of you wonder why an 80-year celebration is kept low-key, we decided to donate to local charities instead of the normal party celebrations,” Leon concluded.