The new man at the helm of the Southgate Industrial Park is Frans van der Merwe (58).
Frans, who was the assistant manager of the park for three years, takes over the managerial duties from Richard O’Brien, who died recently.
“Richard left such big boots to fill,” he said.
“This job is a self-fulfilling prophecy because if we look after the park and tenants, we safeguard our jobs. All we’ve achieved is through the people in the park.”
The park sees about 7,000 vehicles enter its gates every day, with movement of about roughly 8,000 people visiting or working in the estimated 280 businesses.
“The emphasis of the systems in place is on the people’s safety and well-being, which can only be achieved with everyone’s help.”
Frans was born in Durban and matriculated at Dirkie Uys High School.
He joined the SAPS in 1975, before doing a short stint as assistant manager at The Nest Drakensberg Resort Hotel.
In 1979 he joined the City Police, the then oldest police force in the Southern Hemisphere and rose to the rank of chief inspector.
Frans then tried his hand as a business owner of a cement block factory, before designing and selling kitchens and then electric fences and access control.
“That has helped me tremendously in this job, as the park is secured by seven kilometres of electric fencing.
Richard then offered me the position of assistant manager and we just jelled and became good friends. He taught me a lot and vice versa,especially regardind the law as I have a diploma in police and traffic management.”
Frans has two sons – Francios (27) and Christo (25) and the “apple of both my eyes”, his daughter Mandi (12).
He enjoys bass fishing in his spare time and recently got his license to try his hand at sea fishing, when he’s not chasing after a soccer ball with Mandi.
“I enjoy working here,” said Frans. “I have a vested interest in the park, as my son Francios works at the Toyota plant inside.
I have a good team working with me, Malandela Security Services, which makes it easier.
My job is to deflict as much crime away from the park as possible and make it as unwelcoming to criminal elements, plus help tenants to flourish.
More importantly I need to enforce the rules in a civilised way.”
