Ephraim Hechter reached South Africa in 1929, penniless. He had an aunt in South Africa. His wife to be, Leah Chesler, joined a year later in East London, where they got married. Ephraim was from Leliunai (In Yiddish, Lelyun) near Utena or Utian in the Province of Kovno in Lithuania and his wife Leah from Kovno in Lithuania. They ran concession stores in Joburg and around the Lichtenburg Alluvial diggings before reaching Vryburg around 1931. Most of these small stores were run in partnership with others, selling to mine workers.

 

In Vryburg Ephraim and Zalman Davidovitz set up Headermans. In 1933 the two partners bought the then flailing S. Solomon and Company from Schneier and London Limited, based out of Johannesburg. Ephraim Gluckman managed the store on their behalf. After ending their business partnership, Ephraim and Salamn agreed that Efraim continue with S. Solomon & Company (later re-branded as Solomon’s Stores) and Zalman continued with Headermans. With the help of Harry Joffe, Ephraim led a formidable turnaround. One of his ingredients for success was hiring young and ambitious Jewish migrants, like Harry Joffe, Max Cohen and others.

 

The Hechter’s had two children, Avi and Julius. Avi was born in Johannesburg in 1931, just before the move to Vryburg. The family left in 1942. Avi's brother Julius was born in Johannesburg after they left Vryburg. Ephraim and Leah Hechter were deeply immersed in the Jewish community and made a substantial donation towards the construction of the local Guild Hall. Ephraim also represented Vryburg at the SA Jewish Board of Deputies.

 

After they left Vryburg, Ephraim took on as partners in the business Jack Katz, Selwyn Leibowitz and Hymie Arenson. The Hechter’s were related to Max and Leah Cohen and Harold and Zelda Scheckter. Leah Cohen and Leah Chelser’s mothers were sister’s and Leah Cohen was a Scheckter – Harold’s sister.