Manitou expands in South Africa with new dealers

Manitou Group has appointed two dealerships for its Gehl brand in South Africa.

The appointment of South Gear Co and BurGerS Equipment & Spares reinforces the group’s commitment to South Africa, it said, which is the largest market on the continent and the fifth-largest market globally for backhoe loaders - excluding North America.

The signings will provide a comprehensive lineup of Gehl products for the construction and agriculture markets, including two high-performance backhoe loader models, a full range of skid steers and two specialized telehandler models.

South Gear Co, based in Pretoria, Gauteng, joined the Manitou network in 2025 focusing on the sales and service of the Gehl range, and has now been recognised as official dealer.

Family-owned BurGerS joined the Gehl dealer network in April 2026. Headquartered in Johannesburg, it serves the Gehl brand through its Cape Town branch, and has a history in the mining sector.

By becoming an official Gehl dealer, the company is now expanding its reach to provide dedicated solutions for the agriculture and construction markets.

New Gehl dealer South Gear. (Image: Manitou).

Manitou said its expansion into Gauteng and the Western Cape would allow it to better serve the three pillars of the South African economy: construction, agriculture, and mining.

Steve Ryder, president of Manitou Group’s LAPAM region, said, “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.”