S&V African Leather Magazine Vol18 No2 February 2024
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IN THIS ISSUE:
02 Sam Setter’s ‘Pills’
- A new quip from Sam Setter in each issue.
04 Upfront
- Among other things, an SLF audit is reassurance for our customers, says new Nakara MD Max Schaefer.
- After 3 years ‘in the wilderness’, APLF returns to its Hong Kong roots in time for its 40th anniversary.
- Bader SA and Karan Beef continue their long-standing hide agreement.
- In a difficult era for trophy hunting, Pieter Swart heads both SATTA and SUCo-SA.
- Tops Exotic Leather processes Zambia’s lower croc grades for local leather goods manufacturers.
- Leather technician Björn Jonsson leaves to take up post in France.
11 An Eclectic View
- Crocodiles everywhere! A look at the effect of crocodilian farming on the status of various species in the wild, by H. Procter.
- A simple – but nuanced – answer: Yes, farming has benefited some crocodilians, says Crocodile Specialist Group co-chair Charlie Manolis.
13 Decoding Tanning Science
- The effect of calcium concentration in delimed hides on the efficiency of bating, by the ISTT’s Dr Clive Jackson-Moss.
12 Weights & Measures
- Compiled by the ISTT.
13 Sustainability
- February workshops in Zimbabwe, by Sustainable Leather Foundation MD Deborah Taylor.
17 Agriculture
- The crucial role of crop diversification in SA’s agricultural future, by FNB’s Paul Makube.
17 Animal Welfare
- Reports by the NSPCA:
- Red Sea terror attacks back stand against live export by sea.
- Lions burnt and left to suffer.
19 Trade Statistics
- SA hides, skins, and leather trade statistics for December 2023, issued by SARS.
Advertisers in this Issue
APLF (03), Authenticae (05), International School of Tanning Technology (ISTT) (07), Mimosa (10), Rolfes Leather Division (xx), S&V Calendar (01), S&V Directory (15), Southern African Footwear & Leather Export Council (SAFLEC) (09), Stahl (OFC), Sustainable Leather Foundation (02).
The Next Issue
- The March issue of S&V African Leather will be out on 20 March. The deadline for contributions is 13 March.
- Nakara: SLF audit ‘reassurance for customers’
Windhoek, Namibia – I have been appointed MD of Nakara Tannery & Manufacturing as of January, and I am pleased to report that Nakara has been audited by the Sustainable Leather Foundation and that it is now an SLF compliance partner.With regards to the benefits and learnings during the auditing process:The SLF auditing process b ...moreIn a difficult era for trophy hunting, Pieter Swart heads both SATTA and SUCo-SA
Pretoria, Gauteng, SA – Pieter Swart, the current President of the SA Taxidermy & Tannery Association (SATTA), was elected as the Sustainable Use Coalition Southern Africa (SUCo-SA)* Chairman late in 2023. He entered the wildlife industry as a part time professional hunter and outfitter in the early 90s shortly after ...moreTops: Processing lower crocodile skin grades for local leather goods market, aimed at tourists
Kafue, Zambia – Topsoil General Dealers was registered as a company in 2009 as a raw hides and skins trading company. The company supplies good quality raw hides and skins to local tanneries to be processed into leather as a way of value addition.The raw hides not fit for leather processing are sundried and exported for food t ...moreCrocodiles everywhere
A recent paper in the Journal of Coastal Research has sparked interest in the value that environmental services play in a local economy (van Heerden and Snyder, 2013). Anyone would have predicted that there is economic value in keeping wild areas intact.The American alligator was under direct threat in 1973 - listed as EN (endangered) on ...moreThe effect of calcium concentration in delimed hides on the efficiency of bating
Part 2. The effect of calcium content on the enzymatic bating, elastin removal and collagen degradation of delimed hides (Editor’s note: Part 1 was in S&V African Leather, Vol. 17, No. 11, November 2023, and is available on the website, www.svmag.co.za) ...moreFebruary workshops in Zimbabwe
On 12-13th February SLF deliverED a 2-day workshop in Harare, Zimbabwe where tanneries from Zimbabwe, Madagascar and Zambia cAme together to participate.This was a continuation of the work under the SIPS project that began last year, and the last issue of S&V African Leather reported on the positive results of the work already complet ...moreSam Setter's 'Pills': For readers who need some wry medicinal humourThe EU bureaucracy is often a pain in a certain place (just ask the European farmers) because its directives are often interfering with tradition at great loss for small enterprises, always favouring big (multinational) companies. This time the EU centred the bullseye with the Green Claim Directive, EUGCD, which if implemented, would be a ...moreAPLF returns to Hong Kong for its 40th anniversaryThe 2024 edition of APLF Leather will be held at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) from 19 - 21 March, concurrently with its sister events, Materials+ and Fashion Access.The importance of APLF as ‘the meeting place of the global leather industry’ is borne out by the combination of institutional and comme ...moreBader, Karan hide agreement continuesBader SA and Karan Beef have confirmed that the agreement whereby Bader SA buys all Karan Beef hides is still in place.Karan, which is a vertically integrated feedlot, abattoir and meat wholesaling business, slaughters around 2 000 cattle per day. The hides are third party wet blue tanned.Bader SA COO Robert O’Connell said the ...moreLeather technician Björn Jonsson leaves SAI'm sad to say that after 33 years I have left SA for France because the work in SA was not as fulfilling as it was in the past. I'm now working for CET outside Juvardeil in Western France. CET is part of a large abattoir group, Bigard, which is the largest meat processor in France.CET is a wet blue plant supplying wet blue and wet white ...moreA simple – but nuanced – answer: Yes, farming has benefited some crocodiliansCharlie Manolis is chief scientist at Wildlife Management International in Karama, Northern Territory, Australia, and he is also a co-chair of the CSG. Below, he says crocodilian farming has more-or-less eradicated poaching, but that other human pressures threaten many crocodilian species.rn ...moreEU Green Claims Directive (EUGCD):In other news, on Wednesday 17th January 2024, the EU overwhelmingly voted for the adoption of the Green Claims Directive, with 593 votes in favour, 21 against and 14 abstentions. The Directive that is designed to prevent companies from misleading consumers through “greenwashing” or vague marketing claims, will now go for Cou ...moreThe crucial role of crop diversification in SA’s agricultural futureJohannesburg, Gauteng, SA (30 January 2024) – The agricultural landscape is undergoing a significant transformation as the traditional practice of mono-cropping, where a single crop variety is planted extensively across vast tracts of land, is rapidly fading. Sustainable crop production now demands urgent attention towards diversify ...moreRed Sea terror attacks against shipping back stand against live export by sea as ship forced to turn backJohannesburg, Gauteng, SA (23 January 2024) – The NSPCA reiterates its unwavering stance against the live export of animals by sea, emphasising the severe implications on animal welfare. The recent incident involving the MV Bahijah, an Australian live export ship stranded amid deteriorating security in the Middle East, un ...moreLions burnt and left to sufferJohannesburg, Gauteng, SA (06 February 2024) – The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) attended to the Fairy Glen Nature Reserve in Worcester, Western Cape to assist 3 illegally kept lions that were severely burned during wild fires in the area. Grace de Lange, NSPCA Chief Operations Officer explains that “1 male and ...moreSA hides, skins, and leather trade statistics for December 2023Pretoria, Gauteng, SA (31 January 2023) – Source: SARS. https://www.sars.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/Docs/TradeStats/2023/8784Nov/Media-Release-November-2023.pdfIncluding Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and Namibia (BELN)Cumulative tradeTrade balance R'm (649 586 236)Ratio (exports/imports) 0.87Monthly tradeTrade balance R'm (91&nbs ...moreFootwear Industry Articles
- A perspective: Perhaps it was an eye-opener for industry players to hear each otherLooking back over the workshop, BMA consultant Justin Snelling wrote: “In terms of our reflections of the workshop, we covered a lot of territory. Perhaps though what was most encouraging was the breadth of participation from different segments of the sector and their willingness, or even excitement, to contribute. We don’t ta ...more‘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 ...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
- SA’s 2025 automotive leather exports: Down on 2024, but still good, on the face of it
Figures from NAAMSA’s Automotive Trade Manual 2026 Automotive components – exports by product Component category 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 % of total export value Ran ...moreLeather Naturally launches new report on sustainable water managementLeather Naturally’s latest educational resource, Sustainable Water Management in the Leather Industry (https://www.leathernaturally.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Leather-Naturally-Sustainable-Water-Management.pdf), is available to download.Developed using insights from recent public consultation, the report explores:* Why water rem ...moreSam Setter's 'Pills': TraceabilityThe EU Commission is very much engaged in bringing traceability of our raw materials to the forefront of tannery management. But let’s reflect on this for a moment. In the industrial world traceability is a fact, and particularly where food is involved, traceability is a standard requirement for trading. This is firstly to ensure fo ...more
PPE Industry Articles
- Protecting 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 ...moreRealPPE Marketplace: Where safety meets smarter procurement
RealPPE 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. ...moreUnderstanding local and international PPE standards: Clarity in a complex landscape
Appearances and claims to the contrary, South Africa’s PPE industry “is largely unregulated, and a high percentage of PPE on the market is not compliant with official standards”, uvex Safety SA MD Christo Nel said, “and that’s a problem at many levels, and for the entire value chain”.He said the fundame ...more
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