The appointment of South Gear Co and BurGerS Equipment & Spares expands GEHL coverage in Gauteng and the Western Cape, supporting construction, agriculture and mining customers.
Manitou Group is reinforcing its GEHL dealer network in South Africa, a market the company identifies as the largest on the African continent and the fifth-largest globally for backhoe loaders, excluding North America.
The move is centred on the appointment of two dealerships: South Gear Co, based in Pretoria, Gauteng, and BurGerS Equipment & Spares, headquartered in Johannesburg and serving the GEHL brand through its Cape Town branch. Together, the two companies extend GEHL’s reach in two key regions for South Africa’s construction, agriculture and mining sectors.
For Manitou Group, the expansion is also about building a stronger service and support structure around a product range aimed at customers working in demanding operating environments. The company is promoting a GEHL lineup that includes two backhoe loader models, a full range of skid steer loaders and two specialised telehandler models, with applications across construction and agriculture.
South Gear Co joined the network in 2025 and has since focused on the sales and service of the GEHL range. Operating from its main office in Pretoria, the company supports distribution into both construction and agricultural markets. Its market entry has also been recognised at group level, according to Manitou Group.
BurGerS Equipment & Spares officially joined the GEHL dealer network in April 2026. The family-owned company has built its background in the mining sector and is now expanding its activity into dedicated GEHL solutions for agriculture and construction. Through its Cape Town branch, BurGerS gives the brand an additional foothold in the Western Cape, complementing the Gauteng presence of South Gear Co.
That regional coverage matters because Manitou Group is positioning GEHL around three pillars of the South African economy: construction, agriculture and mining. By strengthening dealer coverage in Gauteng and the Western Cape, the group aims to bring machines, service and product support closer to customers operating in these sectors.
Steve Ryder, President of Manitou Group’s LAPAM region, said the South African market plays a central role in the group’s regional strategy:
“South Africa is a critical market for Manitou Group, and a robust dealer network is essential to successfully support our expanding GEHL product range. Our priority is to elevate the customer experience to seamlessly meet local demands, and we look forward to seeing this strengthened foundation drive mutual business growth across the region.”
The appointments also align with Manitou Group’s LIFT 2030 roadmap, which includes a focus on bringing customer satisfaction closer to clients. In practical terms, the strengthened GEHL network gives the group a broader platform to support local operators with machines designed for intensive use across construction sites, farms and mining-related applications.
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