TESA Celebrating 10 Years of Success

TESA Palisade Fencing and Security Systems (PTY) LTD, known in the market as TESA, began in a factory 300m2 in size, with four staff and a first month’s turnover of just R16 000 in 2001.

TESA’s unique trademarked roll formed fencing pale was initially designed for use as alternate product to what was available in the fencing market at that time. The pale was a thinner gauge, lighter and stronger than most competitor products and therefore had the makings of success for TESA. It did not take long for the market to respond.

The first substantial order received was to supply a fence for Pick n Pay in Plettenberg Bay. After this small success TESA began to tender for larger projects and in 2002 were specified as the fencing solution by residential and golf estate developers. A design for Eskom at the Nuclear Power Station with requirements that included a daunting height of 4.5m and the ability to withstand wind speeds of 182km/per hour, proved a true test of what TESA was able to successfully accomplish as a fencing solution company.

In 2003 a gap in the building and construction industry was identified for fencing and balustrading for housing developments. This initiative was so successful that the solution developed into an entirely new division, TESA Balustrading. The end result was a significant number of orders, as many large developments were supplied with this product after it was specified by architects and quantity surveyors.

2004 marked the year that TESA was awarded a contract to supply perimeter fencing for the City of Cape Town Old Age Homes. It was also the year that TESA received its first export order for Shoprite Checkers in Angola. To facilitate additional order requirements, TESA moved to its current premises and in 2005 was awarded the contract to fence the Langebaan Golf Course (12km of fencing) and a housing development in Equatorial Guinea.

During 2007 TESA’s supply into Africa developed further with fencing solutions for golfing estates in the Congo and a hotel development in Angola. TESA parted ways with TESA Balustrading, expanded into the Johannesburg market and was awarded a government tender in Oudshoorn which required a more robust product which saw the TESA fence develop once again. This newly evolved product was hugely successful and it was widely regarded as the best fence manufactured to date.

In 2008 TESA formed an alliance with a fencing concern in Johannesburg. While this partnership proved unsuccessful it did open doors to new markets, specifically in the telecommunications industry. The new market, with its entirely different requirement, resulted in a fundamental change in TESA’s direction, focus and product to meet new specifications. In order to make the product transport friendly, it was redesigned from the traditional clip-system to a bolted design which could be packaged in kit form.


The steep learning curve paid off and during 2008 TESA exported to an impressive 13 African countries and the MD became the first South Africa to win the lauded International Women’s Entrepreneurial Award.

In 2009 TESA received preferred vendor status from Ericsson and manufacturing approval from MTN. During this time TESA initiated a two-year process that concentrated significant efforts on developing a fencing solution for Cell C’s Greenfield Base Transmission Stations. This solution focussed on fencing for Cell C’s pending network rollout. Additionally, Econet Zimbabwe, an African cellular network provider, purchased 600 fences for their BTS sites and TESA supplied fencing into Africa for MTN. In 2009 the TESA MD was once again recognised for her business contributions and awarded the Most Prestigious Woman in Business and Government in the Manufacturing and Engineering sector by CEO Magazine. During this time, she also became the Head the Woman Presidents’ Organization South Africa.

2010 was another significant year that saw Cell C specify TESA as their preferred vendor for the network rollout. To date TESA had supplied 1000 sites to Cell C’s channel partners: the large Chinese firm ZTE and Nokia Siemen’s.  During the course of 2010 TESA once again found their pioneering and consistent efforts rewarded on a global scale, this time with the prestigious BID World Quality Commitment Award.

In addition to the growth in business and international accolades TESA has an enviable relationship with its employees. TESA’s people have always been considered the backbone of the organisation. From its inception 10 years ago it has been actively involved in numerous community and enterprise development projects; and it prides itself on the fact that the majority of its people have been a part of the TESA family from inception.

2011 and 10 years later, through adversity and tenacity displayed by the entire TESA team, the company has evolved and diversified from the domestic market and construction industry and in 2008, to a significant contributor to  the telecommunications sector with fencing solutions to the African telecoms sector.

The product has continued to develop and diversify over the years with operations and product range expanding to include mesh products and light fabricated products for multiple industries. TESA have received ISO 9001:2008 Quality system listing and have trademarked the unique fencing pale, synomonous to TESA. The client base in the telecoms sector has increased and from the inception of the company, where the first gate was made the wrong way around, progress has been significant growing to a multimillion Rand, award winning entity which in September celebrates its 10th Birthday.

TESA has earned a reputation for being adaptable to the ever changing specifications in the market it operates within  and is known for quality products and exceptional service offerings, as a result of a never give in attitude.   With its current research into new products and markets and its continual focus on a customer driven initiative, the next 10 year are sure to be full of excitement for TESA. From its inception – in that small 300m2 factory to the business it is today takes a keen eye for opportunity and an ability to adapt to the ever-changing specifications of the various markets it serves.

TESA has recently been nominated as finalists in the ABSA/Cape Chamber of Commerce Exporter of the Year Award 2011; received ISO listing and trademarked the unique fencing pale.