Remi D

How my company was destroyed by LINDE forklifts SA a Germany international company .

How my company was destroyed by LINDE a Germany international company . I started working for Linde Forklifts in 2005 with vast experience in the forklift industry, prior to that l was working for Toyota forklifts. Seven years later l saw a gap in the material handling industry. I approached the Linde then MD Mr Phil De wet to establish an entity that would supply a service under a BEE initiative empowerment. I had seen a gap in the repairing of forklifts axles. I decided to open a company, resigned and started offering the service to Linde forklifts in 2012. We agreed with the organization that l will be repairing their forklifts axles for the linde group. This was not in writing but as a verbal agreement, so l began with my service. Hence they registered me on their vendors list. (See mail 5 Dec2012 and 5Mar2013) As a start up black business l had some challenges with delivering my products on time. I approached the then National manager Mr Dennis Townsend with a proposal to better my game. He was very helpful and referred me to the late stores manager Mr Richard Wilde.Mimi My proposal was that l supply the stores with service exchange axles ( a component that has been repaired and is ready for use). With his approval l decided to cash up all my provident funds and acquired used recondition axles which l then supplied to their stores, a total of 13 axles l supplied. When their service departments needed a reconditioned axle, they would bring their old damaged one and take a service exchange. This improved lead time very well. There was no need to wait for days to get the component repaired. When Richard Wilde the store manager died in 2014, linde appointed a new manager Mr Dewald Vanrensburg and that is when l really felt l was procuring to an international firm that is not willing to share its profits with Africa. When l began l was really made to feel at home. He did not want me to pick up the damaged units that l needed to repair. His junior staff ended up telling me that he was told not to give me because l was a thief. This matter l reported it to the then MD Mr Brenton Alexander to be investigated but he just brushed it off. I again returned to complain about my missing axles to which he said l can go to court if l want to because Mr Dewald Vanrensburg said he does not have my axles.(see mail 6 Aug2015) Having working for linde almost a century all l have now is this complaining letter. When Mr Dewald Vanrensburg was removed from the position as the stores manager l approached Mr Branton Alexander again and after telling him that l am going to include the Government specifically The Deputy President. He then refereed me to his new stores manager Mr Rick Potgieter who did his investigations and later told me to give him time to look for any available axles. (See mail 9 mar2016) Ever since I stopped working on my axles business has been so bad that l had to moved out of my workshop and now l am fighting not to lose my house. If l was returned my axles l think business could have been better. Some of the linde service departments are still procuring from my company but l now turn then down because l cannot deliver a good service if l don’t have service exchange units. It is so unfortunate that some peoples can sleep at night after exploitation of that manner. That was since 2015 and up to now l am still waiting. With what l believe has been going on with Linde funds in South Africa l don’t think it was a problem to pay for my axle hence at one time l ask for compensation and l was turned down The time l reported this matter to Mr Dennis Townsend National manager l was asked to bring proof of all the delivery notes from the time we started supplying and we did. (See book1 and mail 22sep2015) I have all the communications details l did with all the representatives of this company. Five years down l have been left broke. Linde was my main client and l wanted to show my loyalty by specializing in their components repairs since l had gathered a lot of experience during my time in their workshops and on the field. I do not want to sound racist but my story says a lot. When Mr Dewald Vanrensburg the new stores manager decided not to procure from my company they gave the deal to a white owned company that if one can investigate they delivered sub- standard work, l talked to the technicians on the ground. Linde left me paralyzed without my axles business has been down until to date. ( see mail 6 Aug2015) These are some of the problems that startups are going through. One builds his business only to fall in the hands of these multi- million international giants who can get you lawyers to swallow you up in a minute. My dream is to have my axles back with some compensation and a chance to prove loyalty. My sources tell me that Linde has been struggling to score points in their BEE structure because of partly how it treats black suppliers. I have people who can acknowledge to that fact that l am talking about. As much as international companies can invest here, they also must be fair in their business dealing with our locals. Since l started doing business with Linde the representative did not want any written agreement, they insisted on verbal and work was done. I think this is done intentionally knowing we are vulnerable and will accept anything just to put food on our table. In a so called new South Africa that the leaders are busy preaching about radical economic transformation but many cannot be part of building the economy because of some individuals with disturbing agendas. This is very sad. Time must come here in Africa when we must be able to feed ourselves instead of looking to the west for all major business. This is why we sometimes put up with such unfavorable business deals because we don’t have the financial muscle. It is a pity sometimes we just accept to be bullied by the big cooperation’s for the simple reason of not being able to voice. Why, because the economy needs them at the expense of entrepreneurs’ success. I think we need a fair deal on the table call it a win-win situation. If one analyses my situation it’s like a drop in the ocean. They can wake up and give my drop in a glass full of water and not even feel it. Instead, we suffer for mistakenly dropping our drop in their ocean. International companies are needed all over the world but not to exploit but to build economic growth. So please my plea to these Major international companies, is to work with us not only us to work for them. From sep 2 ********** its been 28 months l shoud be getting an income for my 12 axles which would be at least R8000 to recondition each axle. That would give me R96000 per month and R2 688 000 in the 28 months. That is how much linde has made me lose for the past 3 years. Not only that l have also closed my workshop with a debt of R170 000, lost my house worth 1300 000 and indebted with bills to the value of R350 000. If my axles were returned to me in August 2015 when Linde decided they did not want my services l am sure l was going to worth more than l am claiming.