In the 1950s Glynn Vipond, the present managing director Greg Cragg’s grandfather, started a fencing manufacturing and Installation Company called Fencit (Pty) Ltd in Durban, Natal which eventually grew into a nationwide company consisting of 9 branches all over South Africa. Greg’s father, Lofty Cragg, worked for Metal Box in Vanderbijlpark for 15 years. His interest in fencing was piqued by Glyn
n and his fencing company in Natal. Lofty started making wrought iron fireside accessories and eventually a garden gate as a hobby. However, when Lofty and Denise’s only daughter was born in September 1966, he decided it was time to start his own fencing business, just like his father-in-law Glynn Vipond. From humble beginnings in his garage, his little business moved to a local Panel Beaters workshop, then to a factory and office block that used to be owned by Schweppes Bottling Plant in Duncanville, Vereeniging. Glynn took an interest in this young upstart and offered Lofty the opportunity to join his company Fencit (Pty) Ltd. The offer was accepted and Fencit Transvaal (Pty) Ltd came into being. During this time Lofty drew on Glynn Vipond’s expertise and knowledge in the Security Fencing Industry and Glynn’s manufacturing company began to supply all his fencing materials. Fencit Transvaal (Pty) Ltd’s first big contract in 1966 was for Vaal High School in Vanderbijlpark, followed by numerous household fencing contracts. However, it was a contract for Sasol 1 which included fencing around the new refinery, the old AECI complex and 300 houses in Sasolburg that established Fencit Transvaal (Pty) Ltd as one of the best fencing companies in the Vaal Triangle. The tender was successful because they were able to offer Sasol a non -corrosive product in the form of plastic coated mesh as opposed to the usual galvanised mesh. Fencit (Pty) Ltd in Natal manufactured this plastic coated mesh. Fencit (Pty) Ltd in Natal invented and developed the grooved fencing post and stay “collar” which eliminated the time consuming need to drill holes in the posts for the straining wires. Later the “collar” system was replaced by a simple “pin” system invented by Fencit Transvaal (Pty) Ltd. In the early years, Denise, Lofty’s diminutive wife would climb behind the steering wheel of a huge truck and transport the fencing teams
to various sites. She also worked in the office and helped Lofty establish his business. Most of their children worked in the company, especially the boys during their school holidays when they were growing up. From time to time over the years, most of them worked in the company including their daughter Debbie and daughter in law, Roz. When Lofty decided to retire in 1989, Greg left the music industry and his promotions company, Power Productions, to join the family business as the managing director and has proceeded to take the company to new heights. Not only have they been working in Sasol for over 40 years, but they have done work all over the country and in Mozambique, where they fenced the Sasol Temane gas project factory. In the 1990’s together with Gary Benade, Fencit Transvaal (Pty) Ltd developed a highly sophisticated computer programme to monitor electrified security perimeter fencing used by many large corporations today. Recently Fencit Transvaal (Pty) Ltd was awarded the contracts to fence the perimeter of two solar farms in the Karoo and is proud to be part of these sustainable energy projects in South Africa. In 2016 Fencit Transvaal (Pty) Ltd will be celebrating 50 years in the fencing industry.
