The non-athletic exhibitors at Comrades
Published: 3rd Jul 2024
The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition sponsors local manufacturers of non-sports products to exhibit at the Comrades Expo. This year, that group included:

Double Down, the footwear manufacturing division of sole maker Planet Events. On the stand was Andile Sefoloko.

Sandal manufacturer Mgabhazi 83. On the stand were Goodwill Moekoena, Nkululeko Xaba and Sfiso Khwela.

New stitchdown manufacturer Aldora Handcrafted Shoes. On the stand were Irene Ganesh and Ester Narsadu.

Impela Trading in Ladysmith, KZN, SA, trains subsistence farmers techniques to flay and preserve hides and skins, and also manufactures leather products. Simx & Alice Orimo own and run this business. rn

Vasie at Rathgar Falls Trading says the handmade nature of her products – which include weapons accessories – is behind their appeal.
Tags: Comrades Expo, DTI, Double Down, Planet Events, Andile Sefoloko, Mgabhazi 83, Goodwill Moekoena, Nkululeko Xaba, Sfiso Khwela, Aldora Handcrafted Shoes, Irene Ganesh, Ester Narsadu, Impela Trading, Simx Orimo, Alice Orimo, Rathgar Falls Trading
- Falke: Clawing back market share with Mikado brandPretoria, Gauteng, SA – Over the past year, Falke Hosiery SA has been repurposing its Mikado stocking hosiery brand to include a medium-price sock range aimed at the domestic market.While over 80% of its Falke-branded technical sock production – which includes sports socks for running, skiing and hiking, with patented left- an ...moreTifosi: Getting It ONWas the expo well organised? Siphiwe Maseko: From set up everything went well, our setup crew were there to assist on the set up and any changes to be made on the spot were fulfilled swiftly to make sure the display was in order. The Expo started on time and the influx of runners brought the vibe. The organisers made it to manoeuvre the e ...more
- Technical running exhibitorsThe days when most running shoe and apparel brands had stands at the Comrades Expo are over. That side is now dominated by race sponsor Mr Price Sport, which runs a retail outlet at the fair. There were some running shoe and apparel brands exhibiting, including distributor Tifosi Sports, promoting the Swiss shoe brand, On, distributor Sti ...more
Footwear Industry Articles
- Obituary: Joe McGinley, Conshu (14/04/1936-20/05/2026) He ran an empire, but kept a human touchSomerset West, W. Cape, SA – Joseph Pascal McGinley, the former Conshu director who died in May, a month after his 90th birthday, was a larger-than-life character who was renowned during his career in SA for his kindness, and who lived life to the full.Born in Letterkenny, Donegal, Ireland, to Joseph and Madeline McGinley, both doct ...moreManufacturer-buyer event: Results still to be tallied, but broad enthusiasm for moreThe 2-day Retail Buyer Engagement & Manufacturer Onboarding Programme on 01 and 02 July was part of an effort to kickstart the R-CTFL Masterplan – which, from a footwear perspective at least, has appeared stalled.It was sponsored by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and implemented through the R-CTFL Masterplan Footwea ...moreTshepo opens new store at Mall of AfricaJohannesburg, Gauteng, SA (02 June 2026) — South African fashion brand Tshepo has opened its second store at Mall of Africa.Tshepo, founded by Tshepo Mohlala in Victoria Yards 10 years ago, specialises in locally made denim jeans.“Victoria Yards remains central to Tshepo's identity, serving as the bran ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- Nigeria’s Leather Industry: Not a clear pictureNigeria is widely accepted as having a very large livestock population, but a relatively small tanning industry, much of it concentrated in Kano, producing high grade goat- and sheepskin crust which is exported for finishing elsewhere for use in garments.Recent articles cast some doubt on this, so are Nigeria’s hides and skins: M ...moreOBLIQUITYShareholder value is usually the result of running a good business, not a reliable operational principle for running one ...moreRwanda’s planned leather park movedRwanda’s planned tannery park has been moved from Bugesera District to Gicumbi District, according to several reports. It’s expected to be completed by 2029. The project was first announced in 2024. ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- The concepts behind safety: Why bother with PPE on the ‘Road to Zero Harm’?For over a decade, the ILO and other such bodies have been pushing this whole notion of "Zero Harm", "Road to Zero" and other such catchy titles, all pushing the idea most probably backed by one-sided research that "Zero Harm" is the only way and can be achieved if you work hard enough.My problem with this id ...moreMaking fall protection practicalWorking at height is, by its nature, potentially dangerous. But only potentially. Properly planned and executed, working at height is safe. However, accidents and injuries are common.Part of the problem is that many – most – businesses do fall protection plans as tick box exercises. Industry can help by planning correctly, whi ...moreProactive or reactive? The importance of choosing the correct hand protectionOur aim is to deliver value to the user experience by ensuring optimal protection, compliance, and operational confidence in every task performed.Hand protection has evolved significantly in response to the critical need to reduce workplace injuries and strengthen safety performance across diverse industries.Modern advancements in materia ...more
© S&V Publications










