Why “made in South Africa” matters

When you choose a tool marked Made in South Africa, you’re investing in local workforces and supporting industries that keep the economy moving. Local manufacturing matters because it strengthens supply chains, provides stability at home and reduces dependence on imports that often fail to last.

South Africa imports close to 60% of its hand tools, many of them from Asia. While these products are often cheaper upfront, they wear out quickly and need replacing. Locally made tools are designed to last. A well-built spade or hammer can serve for decades, saving money in the long run and cutting down on waste.

Manufacturing is also one of the country’s largest employers, with about 1.7 million South Africans working in the sector. Every tool produced locally helps sustain those jobs and supports the suppliers, distributors and families connected to the value chain.

Lasher is a strong example of why “Made in South Africa” continues to carry weight. Since 1929, its Germiston factory has been producing the country’s most recognisable hand tools. What began with a single shovel has become a catalogue of more than a thousand products trusted in mines, on farms, in workshops and in homes across South Africa.

Nine decades of putting quality in South African hands

Lasher was established during a period of rapid industrial growth. Mining dominated the economy, agriculture was expanding, and new towns and cities were emerging. Reliable, durable tools were in high demand, and Lasher quickly built a reputation as a manufacturer workers could depend on. Its first shovel set the standard: strong enough for daily use and built to last.

Over the years, the product line expanded to include spades, picks, hammers, axes, wheelbarrows and many other essentials. The principle never changed. A tool had to withstand the toughest conditions. For miners, builders and farmers, failure was costly because a broken tool meant lost time and lost income. Consistency in quality is what has made Lasher a trusted name across generations.

What also stands out is Lasher’s decision to keep production local. While other manufacturers looked to imports, Lasher continued to invest in its Germiston plant, training skilled workers and maintaining strict quality control. This has supported jobs, preserved local expertise and strengthened South Africa’s manufacturing base. Today, Lasher employs hundreds of people and remains a cornerstone of local industry, showing that domestic manufacturing can deliver world-class quality.

From the soil to the skyline: Lasher’s footprint on our land

Supporting the hands that feed us

Agriculture is one of South Africa’s most important sectors. It contributes over R150 billion to the economy each year and provides jobs for more than 800,000 people. Tools are at the core of this work.

For generations, farmers and gardeners have relied on Lasher equipment to till soil, harvest crops and transport produce. Hoes, spades, forks, rakes and wheelbarrows may appear simple, but they are essential to food production. A reliable tool improves efficiency and productivity, while a poor-quality one slows progress. Farmers who work the land every day know the difference.

The impact of local manufacturing goes further. Every hoe or spade made in Germiston supports jobs along the value chain – from steel suppliers to distributors delivering tools to rural cooperatives and garden centres – and the wider food system that puts meals on our country’s tables.

Tools for a growing nation

South Africa’s development can be seen in its infrastructure. Roads, bridges, railways, schools, hospitals and homes all depended on reliable tools to build and maintain. For 95 years, Lasher has been part of this progress.

In mining, its picks and shovels became trusted companions underground. In construction, wheelbarrows, hammers and spades helped build everything from township housing projects to major landmarks. Even with the introduction of heavy machinery, strong hand tools remain indispensable on site.

Manufacturing’s contribution goes beyond products. The sector makes up about 13% of GDP and is central to skills development. At Lasher, generations of machinists, toolmakers and engineers have trained and refined their craft on the factory floor. Many started as apprentices and went on to become highly skilled specialists, passing their expertise on to new workers. This cycle of learning has ensured that knowledge is continually improved, keeping production standards high.

It also means that Lasher is a training ground for South African industry. The skills gained at our factory often travel beyond the company itself, supporting other sectors and strengthening the country’s overall manufacturing base. By investing in people as well as products, Lasher has helped sustain a pool of technical talent that benefits both the business and the wider economy.

Recent global disruptions have shown the risks of relying too heavily on imports. Shipping delays, rising costs and supply chain breakdowns all affect product availability. For South Africa, strengthening local manufacturing means greater resilience and more control over quality.

Lasher demonstrates that local production is sustainable. By keeping operations in Germiston, the company provides jobs, builds skills and contributes to tax revenues that support public services. It also reduces the environmental footprint associated with importing products from overseas.

For consumers, buying local is a deliberate choice. It means supporting South African workers, backing businesses that invest in the country, and choosing products made for local conditions. A spade designed for South African soil will always outlast a cheaper import.

What’s your Lasher story? Join the celebration

For many South Africans, Lasher tools carry personal meaning. A farmer may still use a hoe passed down from a parent. A builder may remember a wheelbarrow that stood up to years of hard labour. A gardener may continue to rely on a fork bought decades ago.

These stories show the lasting value of tools that stand the test of time. In an age of disposable products, Lasher tools have earned their place as trusted companions, woven into daily life and passed down through families as part of their working heritage

As Lasher marks its 95th anniversary, the company is inviting South Africans to share their stories. Do you own a shovel that has been in the family for generations? Do you still use a wheelbarrow that has carried loads year after year? Heritage Month, observed every September, is a chance to recognise the histories and industries that shape South Africa, making it a fitting time to celebrate local craftsmanship.

Use #BuiltWithLasher to show us your oldest or most-loved tool

Join the celebration and post a photo or short story about your Lasher tools using #BuiltWithLasher.

Share your story and become part of a collective celebration of South African manufacturing and resilience. It’s a chance to highlight how tools made in Gauteng have shaped farms, homes and communities across the country.