Over 85 Years!
MacDonald's is a true story of one man's dream to create a family business that will stand the test of time.
MacDonald’s was established in 1933 by Hermanus Johannes (Mac) MacDonald. The business had humble beginnings, focusing on the transportation of livestock in the Northern Cape and Namibia.
Mac’s eldest son, Freddie MacDonald, showed keen interest in the business from an early age. Freddie’s interest in transport industry became a passion the more time he had spent with his father at their business on the family’s small holding in Upington. Still a school boy, fascinated by the business, he would use every opportunity to join the truck drivers over weekends and holidays during their deliveries. As soon as Freddie finished school, he qualified himself as diesel mechanic and started his career at the family business. Committed to the business, he got involved in all aspects, from servicing the vehicles, marketing the business and even handling deliveries himself if necessary.
In 1972, Mac fell ill and Freddie temporarily took over the day to day operations. After recovery, Mac returned on a part time basis.
Freddie took over full control in 1978. He began to grow and develop MacDonald's focusing on customer needs, and implemented the necessary processes and controls to ensure customer satisfaction. During this time he realised that the market requirements had changed and therefor steered MacDonald’s from a company focusing on the transportation of livestock to transporting grain, maize, dried fruit, and building materials.
In time Freddie’s eldest daughter, Eugenie MacDonald, showed an interest in the family business. Like her father, she spend most of her weekends and holidays working at MacDonald's. Following her graduation in 1994, she joined the business permanently.
Danie Janse van Rensburg grew up close to the MacDonald family and like Eugenie, worked at the business during school holidays. Danie shared Freddie’s passion for the transport industry and joined MacDonald's permanently in 1995.
Both Eugenie and Danie had to start from the very bottom. They worked in the yard, cleaning trucks, counting parts and painting rims to learn and have a full understanding of what transport entails. Having proved themselves, they became schedulers and learn the new responsibility of planning to ensure client’s goods were received on time. Danie later moved into marketing but still remain interested in operations, whilst Eugenie’s passion in the administrative and financial side of the business. She pursued this further and obtained her MBA degree in 2006.
During 2007, Danie was appointed as Chief Executive Officer and Eugenie as Chief Administrative Officer. Freddie remained Executive Manager and mentored Danie and Eugenie in their new roles.
In 2009, history repeated itself when Freddie became ill and Danie and Eugenie took over the day to day management of the company. Freddie recovered but never returned to MacDonald's on a permanent basis but still continued to offer mentorship and guidance to Danie and Eugenie.
Over the last couple of years, under Danie’s guidance the business has grown and developed to meet the needs of the continuously changing market. Today MacDonald’s transports everything except livestock and home contents. MacDonald’s has the capability and infrastructure to offer their customers a diverse range of logistics solutions including; transportation, warehousing, handling, equipment handling, packaging and cranes. Our dedicated consolidation service operating from Cape Town – Upington – Cape Town and Johannesburg – Upington – Johannesburg has guaranteed deliveries within 48 hours.
Danie’s vision for MacDonald’s is to provide a professional one-stop Transport and Logistics Solution through continuous development and service excellence, without sacrificing the Company’s values.
Mac’s eldest son, Freddie MacDonald, showed keen interest in the business from an early age. Freddie’s interest in transport industry became a passion the more time he had spent with his father at their business on the family’s small holding in Upington. Still a school boy, fascinated by the business, he would use every opportunity to join the truck drivers over weekends and holidays during their deliveries. As soon as Freddie finished school, he qualified himself as diesel mechanic and started his career at the family business. Committed to the business, he got involved in all aspects, from servicing the vehicles, marketing the business and even handling deliveries himself if necessary.
In 1972, Mac fell ill and Freddie temporarily took over the day to day operations. After recovery, Mac returned on a part time basis.
Freddie took over full control in 1978. He began to grow and develop MacDonald's focusing on customer needs, and implemented the necessary processes and controls to ensure customer satisfaction. During this time he realised that the market requirements had changed and therefor steered MacDonald’s from a company focusing on the transportation of livestock to transporting grain, maize, dried fruit, and building materials.
In time Freddie’s eldest daughter, Eugenie MacDonald, showed an interest in the family business. Like her father, she spend most of her weekends and holidays working at MacDonald's. Following her graduation in 1994, she joined the business permanently.
Danie Janse van Rensburg grew up close to the MacDonald family and like Eugenie, worked at the business during school holidays. Danie shared Freddie’s passion for the transport industry and joined MacDonald's permanently in 1995.
Both Eugenie and Danie had to start from the very bottom. They worked in the yard, cleaning trucks, counting parts and painting rims to learn and have a full understanding of what transport entails. Having proved themselves, they became schedulers and learn the new responsibility of planning to ensure client’s goods were received on time. Danie later moved into marketing but still remain interested in operations, whilst Eugenie’s passion in the administrative and financial side of the business. She pursued this further and obtained her MBA degree in 2006.
During 2007, Danie was appointed as Chief Executive Officer and Eugenie as Chief Administrative Officer. Freddie remained Executive Manager and mentored Danie and Eugenie in their new roles.
In 2009, history repeated itself when Freddie became ill and Danie and Eugenie took over the day to day management of the company. Freddie recovered but never returned to MacDonald's on a permanent basis but still continued to offer mentorship and guidance to Danie and Eugenie.
Over the last couple of years, under Danie’s guidance the business has grown and developed to meet the needs of the continuously changing market. Today MacDonald’s transports everything except livestock and home contents. MacDonald’s has the capability and infrastructure to offer their customers a diverse range of logistics solutions including; transportation, warehousing, handling, equipment handling, packaging and cranes. Our dedicated consolidation service operating from Cape Town – Upington – Cape Town and Johannesburg – Upington – Johannesburg has guaranteed deliveries within 48 hours.
Danie’s vision for MacDonald’s is to provide a professional one-stop Transport and Logistics Solution through continuous development and service excellence, without sacrificing the Company’s values.