BBF’s Ndlela Mazibuko: Focusing on customers

Ndlela Mazibuko… “Great generals are those who build new cities with old stones.”
Pinetown, KZN, SA – BBF Safety Group has appointed Ndlela Mazibuko as MD, effective 1 November 2025. He will work alongside the BBF Safety Group CEO, Brian Kuhnert, and the Beier Group CEO, Warren Sachs, in growing the customer centric focus of the business.
In a release, BBF wrote:
A seasoned industrialist and inclusive leader, Ndlela brings a proven track record of driving growth, advancing empowerment, and fostering shared value across the industry. His strategic vision and passion for developing people will be instrumental in steering BBF into its next chapter of purposeful and sustainable growth.
Warren Sachs, Beier Group CEO, commented: “This well-deserved appointment recognises Ndlela’s unwavering commitment to customer centricity, transformation, and building sustainable value for all of our shareholders, as well as for the broader South African economy.
“With over a decade of dedicated service to the Beier Group, Ndlela has been instrumental in shaping the Group’s commercial and growth strategy. His leadership has consistently driven customer-focused innovation, strategic partnerships, and market expansion.
“This appointment is also a result of rigorous succession planning, and we need to take a moment to recognise the significant contribution by Brian Kuhnert who has been steering the BBF ship since 2022. Brian’s initial appointment was to focus on the operational elements and provide a mentorship role in bringing through leadership in that area. Through his business acumen and insights his portfolio grew naturally, and he has been instrumental in bringing stability into the BBF business. Brian will continue in his role with focused attention on the operations side of the business and we are grateful for his continued contribution to the success of BBF.
“We congratulate Ndlela on this appointment and look forward to the renewed energy and focus he will bring as we continue to build a stronger, more inclusive, and customer-focused organisation.”
Respected for his integrity, insight, and collaborative approach, Ndlela has become a popular and trusted figure not only within the PPE industry, but also among partners and peers from varied sectors who have worked alongside him. He will also continue in his role as a Director on the Beier Group Executive Board.
Reflecting on his appointment, Ndlela said in his inimitable style: “Great Generals are those who build new cities with old stones. BBF has a proud legacy of safety, innovation, and empowerment — and I’m excited to build on that foundation as we shape the future together with a team that is deeply passionate about protecting people’s lives and livelihoods.”
Footwear Industry Articles
- ‘Footwear and leather goods sectors show united front at R-CTFL Masterplan review’The R-CTFL Masterplan is currently under review, and a strategic planning session was recently convened with all key stakeholders and representatives present.The footwear and leather contingent participated fully in the session. Representatives from the dtic’s Footwear and Leather sector desk, SAFLEC, SAFLIA, and organised labour, i ...moreCity of Cape Town backs AllFashion Sourcing as it seeks to grow CTFL sectorCape Town, W. Cape, SA – AllFashion Sourcing Cape Town 2026 returns to Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC 2) from 14–16 July 2026, marking a significant milestone as the City of Cape Town joins as a key partner in advancing Africa’s fashion, textile and apparel sector.This partnership signals a shared visio ...moreLemaitre’s Robust Pro, ‘based on user feedback, is a gamechanger in safety footwear’Lemaitre, a trusted leader in safety footwear, is proud to announce the launch of the New Robust Pro, a reimagined safety shoe designed to deliver unparalleled comfort, durability, and all-around protection for workers across industries. With the Robust Pro we set out to create a shoe that truly works as hard as the people who wear it by ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- SARLEN – the journey so farSARLEN was guided by a model policy framework for the leather value chain, adopted by all member states in 2023. It was supported by Deutsche Zusammenarbeit (German Cooperation), implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), with the SADC Secretariat as the principal sponsor.The building blocks are ass ...moreSARLEN aims for business and regulatory advocacy for the leather value chain across SADCThe formation of the Southern African Regional Leather Network (SARLEN) is a process to formalise a voice for commercial, entrepreneurial and developmental associations in the leather value chain (LVC) for the region.The leather value chain has been recognised in SADC as a key entrepreneurial opportunity that can adjust to the scale of th ...moreDavid Buirski retires (but we’re sure to hear more from him)David Buirski, the former South African who edited World Leather from 1993 to 2005, and who continued his involvement with the publication and its offshoots until recently, has finally retired because “having turned 90 last December, I guess it was the sensible thing to do. Thirty-three years could be considered a long time.&rd ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- RealPPE Marketplace: Where safety meets smarter procurementRealPPE Marketplace is a 100% black women-owned B2B PPE marketplace built for South African industry. Founded after years of witnessing safety officers and procurement teams lose time to fragmented suppliers, inconsistent pricing, and missing documentation, RealPPE was created to bring structure and reliability to industrial PPE sourcing. ...moreRealPPE Marketplace: Where safety meets smarter procurementRealPPE Marketplace is a 100% black women-owned B2B PPE marketplace built for South African industry. Founded after years of witnessing safety officers and procurement teams lose time to fragmented suppliers, inconsistent pricing, and missing documentation, RealPPE was created to bring structure and reliability to industrial PPE sourcing. ...morePremier Workwear: Engineered protection for Africa’s industrial workforceIn high-risk industrial environments, protective clothing is far more than a uniform requirement — it is a critical component of workplace safety, operational reliability and regulatory compliance. For procurement professionals, safety managers and operational leaders, selecting the right supplier means finding a partner capable of ...more








