Meet Willem Cloete.
I have a degree in International Trade and an Honours degree in Logistics, but my hands always pulled me to the workshop. I started out at a small business in Orkney, and over the past 8 years I've taught myself everything I know about welding and woodworking.
It really started at the braai. My friends mean everything to me, and the winch braai I built for our get-togethers became the stepping stone to Cloete Wood and Steel, which I started in 2022.
Since then I've built everything from a white oak and mild steel display cabinet, the piece I'm proudest of, to the fencing of an equestrian school's round pen. I use high-quality materials and industrial-grade tools, so every piece is accurate to the last millimetre.
When you work with me, you get honest advice on materials, a straight answer on whether your idea will work, and full transparency from start to finish. Show me the picture in your head, and I'll make it real.
Load shedding doesn't stop the work
The workshop runs on solar power, so I keep cutting and welding when the power is out. Your order is never delayed by power outages: we keep the work running as efficiently as we possibly can.
Video: Green & You
Behind the welds
Willem is a perfectionist. "My work speaks for my character," he always says. "Every piece is a reflection of me."
Meet Nalah.
Nalah, our workshop bulldog, keeps a close eye on quality control.