21/12/2025
https://afrikanergeskiedenis.co.za/dr-albert-wessels.../
A fascinating account of how Toyota landed up in South Africa by Alison Chadwick:
1936 Toyota produced the first lorry thanks to the brilliance of Mr Kiichiro Toyoda.
In South Africa Dr Albert Wessels attended Grey University in Bloemfontein. When he left university, he had to start earning money as in 1931 South Africa was in a serious depression and his farming parents could no longer keep their son at university.
He started off working as a clerk at the Bank of OFS Teachers’ Association in Bloemfontein, he then moved to Johannesburg “the city of gold” where he was able to earn enough to complete his B. Comm. His five years at the Bank of OFS Teachers’ Association paid out unexpected dividends in 1940 and he was offered the position of manager at Volkshemde- en Klerefabriek (Veka).
It was his employment at Veka which launched his career as a businessman and industrialist. He started a building construction business with a partner which lost them big sums of money. For two years every penny he earned he used to pay back the debt.
After paying off his debt he started a successful women’s dress shop, he imported fabrics and manufactured locally.
He then started a small financing company that concentrated on financing imports (Sasfikor). The foundation upon which Randbank developed.
In the late 1950’s Veka was growing so fast that they opened a second factory in Newcastle. He now held 25 percent of the share capital of the third biggest manufacturer of men’s clothing in South Africa.
In 1960 in South Africa the motor companies were Ford and General Motors. Dr Wessels partners in Sasfikor started looking at motor manufacturers in every country.
In 1960 Dr Wessels had an invitation to visit Japan to buy textiles for Veka. He was sourcing two types of cloth for shirts and suits.
Before his journey to Japan the Minister of Economic Affairs encouraged Dr Wessels to look at Toyota while in Japan. After his week of selecting fabrics, he went alone by train from Osaka to Toyota. He was introduced to Mr Dobashi and told Mr Dobashi he had come to see him to apply for the sales rights for Toyota in South Africa. Mr Dobashi proceeded to ask him if he had any experience in the motor industry to which he replied “no”. When asked about marketing Mr Dobashi replied that motor cars aren’t clothing. It wasn’t a promising start.
He then produced an introduction letter from Sasbank which Mr Dobashi seemed impressed with. Mr Dobashi then went on to say he understood that one needs an import permit in South Africa to import vehicles and asked Dr Wessels if he had one.
Dr Wessels replied that he didn’t have a permit because he didn’t have a car to import, he said if Toyota give him the agency, he’d get the import permit. The request was put forward to the chief of Toyota.
A few months later Mr Moriya of the Toyota Motor Corporation arrived in Johannesburg. Dr Wessels was worried as he had nothing to show him, no garage, no car factory, just a clothing factory.
Mr Moriya then agreed to negotiate on condition Dr Wessels could obtain the necessary import permit. Dr Wessels immediately went to see the Director of Imports, he pleaded with him, and he was given a permit to import 10 vehicles. He told him if he sold the 10 vehicles, he’d give him a further permit.
The permit was delivered to Mr Moriya’s room in the old Langham Hotel in Johannesburg. The story goes Mr Moirya cleared his throat three or four times and admitted he never expected for Dr Wessels to obtain the permit.
Five days later permission was given to Dr Wessels to have the Toyota Agency in South Africa.
Brian McCarthy was a significant player in the early days to support Toyota in South Africa.
And that is how Toyota in South Africa was born!
Compiled by Y.Goldswain
