Gareth van der Merwe: direction, planning and accountability
Gareth van der Merwe founded Sign Riggers in 2008 and still sets the standard for how the company works on site. As Managing Director, he keeps the focus on practical planning, safe access and clear communication with sign shops that need a crew they can trust. He knows that every sign job has its own risks, from busy city streets to exposed coastal sites in Cape Town.
His approach is simple: assess the site, plan the lift, brief the crew and get the work done without disrupting the client’s customer. That means proper timing around traffic, wind, load-shedding and building access, plus enough detail before the first ladder or scaffold goes up.
- Oversees project planning and crew deployment
- Reviews access needs for lifts, scaffold and platform work
- Keeps the company aligned to sign makers, not end clients
Thandi Mokoena: schedules, coordination and client handover
Thandi Mokoena keeps the movement of jobs organised across Cape Town and Johannesburg. As Operations Coordinator, she handles the day-to-day flow between enquiries, site timing, crew availability and the practical details that can make or break a project. If a sign needs a same-week removal, a maintenance visit or a planned relocation, she helps make sure the right team is briefed.
Her role also includes making sure the handover between the office and the field is clean and clear. That matters when sign makers are juggling multiple installs in Bellville, Somerset West, Sandton or Midrand, and need straight answers about access, turnaround times and site conditions.
- Coordinates service bookings and crew timing
- Helps manage site information before arrival
- Supports sign makers with clear job updates
Liam Jacobs and Pieter Coetzee: the crew behind the lift
Liam Jacobs leads from the field as Senior Rigging Supervisor. He is the person who turns a site plan into a safe, workable job on the day, whether that means a billboard face change, a sign relocation or a difficult install above street level. He is used to working around weather, tight access and the pace of active commercial areas.
Pieter Coetzee, our Fleet and Access Lead, looks after the equipment side of the job. He checks that the right vehicle, access gear and lifting support are ready before the team leaves base. On a coastal site in Paarden Eiland or a high-traffic business district in Johannesburg CBD, that preparation saves time and reduces risk.
- Liam manages the on-site rigging process and crew direction
- Pieter handles fleet readiness and access equipment
- Together they keep lifts, removals and servicing properly planned
Sibusiso Dlamini: safety checks that stay practical
Sibusiso Dlamini is our Safety Officer and he brings a practical eye to every job. He makes sure the crew is ready with the correct protective equipment, first-aid awareness and the right approach to working at height. Safety is not treated as paperwork only. It is part of the way we set up the site, choose the method and manage the work.
That matters on scaffold access jobs, platform work and lighting access, where a small mistake can slow everything down. It also matters in windy areas, on busy roads, and on sites where municipal rules or building controls affect where equipment can be placed. His checks help keep crews steady and clients informed.
- Runs safety checks before and during jobs
- Supports first-aid readiness on site
- Helps crews work safely at height and around live business areas
Ayesha Daniels: keeping sign makers updated
Ayesha Daniels is the point of contact for many of our clients, especially when timing is tight or the site has changed since the last visit. She keeps communication practical and direct, so sign makers know what is happening without having to chase updates. When a job needs a fresh site survey, an emergency callout or a maintenance visit, she helps keep the process moving.
She also understands the pressure sign makers work under. Their clients want clean installs and fast turnarounds, but they still need a rigging crew that respects the trade relationship. Ayesha helps protect that by making sure we stay in our lane and deliver only the rigging side of the job.
- Handles client communication and job follow-up
- Supports emergency callouts and scheduled maintenance
- Keeps handover details clear for sign makers
How the team works across Cape Town and Gauteng
Although each person has a different role, the team works as one unit across Paarden Eiland, Bellville, Somerset West, Paarl, Johannesburg CBD, Sandton, Midrand and the East Rand. That coordination is what lets us cover sign installation, removal, servicing and billboard face changes without confusion on site. It also means we can move quickly when a sign maker needs a crew at short notice.
Our people know the realities of working in South African conditions. Coastal humidity affects fixings, wind affects access, and load-shedding can change the pace of a job after dark. Because the crew is trained, briefed and organised before arrival, the work stays controlled even when the site is busy or the weather turns.
- Coverage from Cape Town through to Johannesburg and surrounding areas
- Support for site surveys, lift planning and scaffold access
- Rigging only, with no overlap into sign-making work