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FEATURE

TERRAFORCE CELEBRATES 45 YEARS

AND NOW FEMALE-OWNED

Carving out their own path while honouring a family legacy that

spans over four decades, Elgin Rust and Karin Johns (née Rust)
are taking over the reins of the retaining wall business founded
45 years ago by their father, Holger Rust. The sisters are not only
driving forward the company’s success, but also redefining the
role of women in the construction and retaining wall industry.

he story of Terraforce is rooted in
the vision and entrepreneurial spirit
Tof Holger Rust. In 1979, he began
importing gabions, a conventional method
of retaining walls, into South Africa.
However, he recognised the need for a more
cost-effective, practical and aesthetically
pleasing solution and pivoted towards
developing innovative earth-retaining
solutions that would meet the unique
demands of the South African landscape.
Growing up surrounded by the
construction business, Rust and Johns
found their calling, inheriting their father’s
passion for innovation and excellence.
As women in a (still) predominantly
male-dominated industry, Rust and Johns
faced numerous challenges along the
way, but their resilience and unwavering
commitment to quality allowed them to
overcome barriers and earn respect within
the construction community.Their journey
serves as a testament to the vital role that
women play in the built environment.
Quality-driven The new female leadership of Terraforce: Elgin Rust (left) and Karin Johns (née Rust)
In a market where cheaper, less durable
replicas are finding their way onto sites,
Rust and Johns caution the market to
ensure that the product specified, and
the one used on site, is indeed a genuine
Terraforce product.
Citing the technical support, research,
testing and engineering excellence for
which the brand is well known, Rust and
Johns affirm the commitment of this
heritage company to the local construction
industry.
They are dedicated to honouring their
father’s legacy, while charting a new
course for the company’s future. Their story
serves as an inspiration to aspiring female
entrepreneurs and professionals, proving
that with vision, discipline, determination
and a willingness to challenge the status
quo, women can thrive in the construction
and retaining wall business.

For more information contact Terraforce on
021 465 1907 or email info@terraforce.com
Website: www.terraforce.com From left: Karin Johns, Holger Rust and Elgin Rust at Klapmuts Concrete, Terraforce’s Western Cape
licensed manufacturer n

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