Ephraim Hechter arrived in South Africa in 1929, penniless. He had an aunt there. His fiancée, Leah Chesler, joined him 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, and his wife Leah was from Kovno in Lithuania. They operated concession stores in Johannesburg and nearby the Lichtenburg Alluvial diggings before arriving in Vryburg around 1931. Most of these small stores were managed with partners, selling to mine workers.

 

In vryburg Ephraim and Zalman Davidovitz established Headermans. In 1933, the two partners purchased the then-struggling S. Solomon and Company from Schneier and London Limited, based in Johannesburg. Ephraim Gluckman managed the store on their behalf. After ending their business partnership, Ephraim and Zalman agreed that Ephraim would continue with S. Solomon & Company (later rebranded as Solomon’s Stores), while Zalman continued with Headermans. With Harry Joffe's assistance, Ephraim led a strong turnaround. One of his keys to success was hiring young, ambitious Jewish migrants like Harry Joffe, Max Cohen, and others.

 

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

 

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