We are Tradinex

The Home of Sustainable Timber

The Sawmill Company

We are a lumber, wood production & timber operations company based in the Vryheid area, KwaZulu Natal; and our aim is to supply sustainably produced timber at the best value.

We manufacture dunnage for packing material and boxwood for pallets. Approximately 50% of total production consists of dunnage and 50% boxwood for pallets.

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Our History

Tradinex (Pty) Ltd t/a Els Brothers, was originally established in 1981 as Els Brothers Partnership conducting amongst others timber farming as one of its main operations. The Forestry business soon progressed into a fully-fledged sawmilling operation, resulting in the partners establishing their first conventional sawmill at Zungwini (just outside Vryheid), followed by investments in six additional sawmills that were strategically located throughout the South African timber belt. The main products were dunnage, mining timber and pallets.

After a six year merger with Shanyela Timber Resources and SMT Mining, under the name Bedrock Ms, Tradinex (Pty) Ltd t/a Els Brothers was re-established in 2014 to once again incorporate BEE and land reform into the company. 51% of the shareholding is currently held by Khiqiza Trust, which will ensure the involvement and upliftment of the surrounding community

Our Mission, Vision & Values

• To involve and actively participate in the implementation of Land reform and Black Economic Empowerment
• Exceed expectations of customers, suppliers, contractors and stakeholders.
• Enhance empowerment through training and skills development.
• Motivate and lead the surrounding communities to maximise and ensure successful forestry practice.  

• Be a company that rates their customers first, by providing excellent service, quality.
• Be a company who aims at reducing costs to ensure that their customers benefit by cost efficiencies.
• Be a company that prides itself in sharing its success with the surrounding communities, thus empowering an enhancing quality of life for empowered communities, staff, suppliers and customers alike. 

• Integrity
• Respectability and Accountability
• Quality and Service Excellence.

• We have the diversity and ability to adjust the mill to cater for its customers and suppliers’ requirements alike.
• Solid working relationships with our customers and the unique suppliers’ arrangements with black empowered communities
• Experienced and committed management
• Resourceful and cost-effective plantation utilization
• Our products have a green carbon footprint, with carbon credit benefits 

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Our Happy Clients

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Our Principals

Phillip Els

Director

Phillip is the co-founder of Els Brothers, and founder of Tradinex.

Richard Zwane

Sawmill Manager

Richard or “Zweli” as he is known by all, manages the entire sawmill’s operations.

Justin van der Berg

Business Development Manager

Justin heads the Pretoria sales office, and also manages Tradinex’s relations with its clients.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. As per arrangement with our finance office.

We do not accept any cash payments. All payments are to be made as per payment arrangements, cash not being one of them.

Yes, Tradinex is VAT registered. Click here to view our VAT certificate.

Yes. Click here to view our BEE affidavit.

Get In Touch

Feel free to drop us a line - our team is ready to hear from you.

Our Vryheid Corporate Office & Mill

Our Pretoria Sales Office