S&V African Leather Magazine Vol11 No3 March 2017
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IN THIS ISSUE:
Sector Reports
Feedlots
SA agriculture needs to unite to fight antimicrobial resistance, says Minister.
Slaughter drops more than expected, reports Karan Beef’s Arnold Pretorius.
Hides & skins
Hide prices where they should be, says CPC’s Benjy Lapiner.
Small increase in sheepskin supply, demand steady, says African Hide Trading’s Steven Broughton.
Merino
Exports only way forward, but raw material prices too high, says African Merino Trading’s Simo Simov.
Ostrich
SCOT Doing an about-face on China, says Frik Kriek.
Production must match demand, says Mosstrich MD Francois de Wet.
Ostrich industry needs a different business model, says OPSA’s Saag Jonker.
Footwear
Demand down, supply down further, says Midland Leather’s Rudie Nieuwoudt.
Game
Wildlife Ranching SA ‘commits to transformation’, says Adri Kitshoff-Botha.
Leather Research Institute
DTI ‘has created the environment to support an LRI’, assessment finds.
Opinion – The role of masking agents in pickling
From columnist H. Procter.
Technology
Clean processing technology and sustainable production in the tanning industry Reducing Salt in Tannery Wastewater – Part 10, from Dr Clive Jackson-Moss.
Some hide and leather specifications
Compiled by the ISTT.
Companies
Ecco Leather launches translucent leather.
Pension fund head joins Zambeef board.
Fairs and Congresses
ACLE to coincide with World Leather Congress.
Chinese crackdown on polluting industries ‘will be good for exports’.
Designers return to leather as prices drop.
The ‘Leather Revolution’ – how the industry will respond.
Textiles
China refines its cotton policy – report from ICAC.
Advertisers in this Issue
DyStar Boehme Africa (2), Exotic Leather SA (12), ISTT (11), Lanxess (4), Mimosa Extract Co (10), Rolfes Chemicals (OFC), SCOT (6), Tholanizikhumba Trading (7).
- Exports only way forward, but raw material prices remain too high
Bronkhorstspruit, SA – Last year was our worst year since we first opened in 2003. Our normal turnover would be about R30 million per year. In 2015 that dropped to R10 million, and last year to under R1 million. Essentially the export market is closed to us for several reasons:* Russia doesn’t have the money.* Turkey still imp ...moreDoing an about-face on China
An interview with South Cape Ostrich Tanning (SCOT) marketing director Frik Kriek. Ostrich has to find new markets – and there are some. Potential markets often have tariff barriers. Customers call for new looks, but buy the tried and trusted finishes ...moreProduction must match demand
An interview with Mosstrich MD Francois de Wet. Ostrich is a small global player with a unique niche. Pressure to slaughter younger, but there are problems. European demand for fresh Meat is softer than expected ...moreOstrich industry needs a different business model
An interview with Saag Jonker, founder of Ostrich Products South Africa (OPSA) as part of the Saag Jonker Group of Companies. The ostrich industry needs greater unity. Farmers need a greater share. Let’s be more realistic about grading ...moreSA needs to aim at agreeing to implement strategies that will ensure that AMR is limited and reduced.Presentation by the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Senzeni Zokwana, at the Red Meat Industry Workshop on March 16 ...moreSlaughter drops more than expectedJohannesburg, SA – The reduction in cattle slaughter seems to be more than the 8% I predicted in January.For February and March the reduction was 20%.My forecast for April is to be down by 13% and I would think that May will also be down by the same percentage.From June onwards I would think that the situation would return to about ...moreHide prices where they should be.Port Elizabeth, SA – The volatility of the Rand is always a factor. When it was at R12.30 to the Dollar, we were definitely paying too much for hides. At R13,20, hide prices are back where they should be.Hides are less price sensitive than skins for us because there is a big local market with the automotive industry whereas all skin ...moreWRSA commits to transformationThe Wildlife Ranching industry is committed to play a leading role in the transformation of South Africa's agriculture industry. WRSA is committed to work with government to turn million hectares of land into black-owned game reserves that will contribute meaningfully to South Africa's transformation and conservation goals. &nbs ...moreFootwear Industry Articles
- Shlobo Designs: Foreign consumers appreciate handwork and the story behind the brand
Durban, KZN, SA – I’m a native of Umlazi’s K section, but I’ve called Seaview home since 1994.My life has been a tapestry of experiences, woven with threads of resilience, creativity, and unwavering determination. My journey took an unexpected turn when I was retrenched while working for the bank with a wealth expe ...moreDuty evasion, false country of origin and labelling main targets: NCC and SARS ‘sign MoU to strengthen compliance’Media statement issued jointly by the National Consumer Commission (NCC) and SA Revenue Service (SARS)Pretoria, Gauteng, SA (06 May 2026) – The National Consumer Commission (NCC) and the South African Revenue Service (SARS) have concluded a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance consumer protection against the proliferation of ...moreObituary: Joe McGinley, Conshu (14/04/1936-20/05/2026) He ran an empire, but kept a human touch
Somerset 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 ...more
Leather Industry Articles
- Sam Setter's 'Pills': A different perspectiveOne reader, Marc, commented on my March Pill: ‘Sam, the real frustration isn’t the criticism itself. It’s that we haven't been able to get our message outside our own echo chamber. I'm interested. How would you see the leather industry actually breaking through that barrier? In 2026, trust rarely comes from industry stat ...moreRemoval of bisphenol compounds from leather using laccase enzymes
IntroductionBisphenol A (BPA), Bisphenol F (BPF), and Bisphenol S (BPS) are chemicals that have been shown to exhibit estrogenic effects and reproductive toxicity. These compounds disrupt hormonal balance, leading to reproductive and developmental toxicity, neuroendocrine dysfunction, immune system suppression, DNA damage, and chromosoma ...moreMONEY FROM WASTE
Europe has borne the difficulties and the costs of converting to a bioeconomy – the lessons are there, free, for African businesses to learn and profit from. ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- What if the respirator you rely on to protect your health never sealed properly?
I had the opportunity to present at the first PPE Conference in RSA, where I shared some early work we) have been exploring towards developing respirator designs better suited to the South African population.Below is a short AI-generated summary of the core message of the presentation.Respirators are often the last line of defence against ...moreProactive or reactive? The importance of choosing the correct hand protection
Our 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 ...moreProtecting the workforce: The critical role of PPE
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is utilised in a work-environment as part of a larger prevention plan, because on its own protection is limited and may even provide a false sense of protection.An occupational disease prevention plan must be an actionable approach that identifies workplace health hazards, evaluates exposure, and i ...more
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