Van Wettens has built its reputation on the principles set by founder Anton van Wetten in 1967: personal involvement, reliability, care, and 24/7 service. Anton emigrated from Holland to South Africa in 1952 as a certified Ford mechanic and began driving breakdown vehicles to supplement his income. In 1957, he relocated to Nelspruit and eventually purchased the recovery division from the local Ford agency, founding Van Wettens Breakdown Services.
The business grew under the leadership of Anton’s sons, Wim and Jos van Wetten, who joined in the 1970s. Expansion followed rapidly, with branches opening in Middelburg (1982), Witbank (1983), White River and Malelane (1990). In 1984, a lowbed service was launched for abnormal loads, followed by Van Wettens Crane Hire in 1988. Today, the company operates a modern fleet, including rare Holmes wreckers, and remains proudly family-owned.
Managing Director Wim van Wetten serves as Chairman of the Mpumalanga Towing and Recovery Association and holds leadership roles in several international towing associations, including the Road Freight Association of South Africa, the Towing and Recovery Association of America, and Friends of Towing. His dedication has earned him a fellowship in the International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame — one of only four South Africans to receive this honour.
