Hiya
Tohatsu's are pretty bullet proof!!
If i recall correctly, Mr. Yamaha worked for TOHATSU way back in the day. Mr.Yamaha left and started YAMAHA. At the start, there was close ties between TOHATSU and YAMAHA.
The commercial fisherman in the US, especially the crabbing boats run predominantly TOHATSU's. The racing guys also LOVE them, as they are very light, and very robust motors.
Only downside, not only in SA but globally, is that they have a very limited amount of dealers. They work predominantly through small boating enterprises. They do offer a few models of 4 strokes as well as some direct injection 2 strokes, but all their models are limited to motors under 150hp (this might have changed recently.....)
Speak to any owner of a tohatsu, especially the older generation boaters in SA, and you'll hear them all RAVE about them!!