Cape Town, W. Cape, SA – Trading conditions: Still sluggish overall, but we’re hopeful the recent cold weather will lift winter sales. April is also challenging with public holidays which affects the trading rhythm.

Product strategy: We’ve reverted to traditional offerings vs chasing athleisure. Focus is now on local manufacturers and our leather footwear advantage. Strong sellers: Bolton, Dick Whittington, Eddels, Corrida, Dakotas. Consistent imports: Sebago, Caterpillar, Urban Art. Our in-house Vault leather range, made in SA, gives great value.

Consumer reality: Despite Cape Town’s buzz, development, ‘semigration’, and tourism, spend hasn’t flowed to retail. Customers are stretched and choosing lifestyle/dining over apparel, defaulting to low-budget options. Temu & Shein pressure is real — low price, huge choice, no-hassle returns.

Suburban outlook: Major upgrades planned for Claremont and Wynberg should bring our target customer back. MyCiti will help commuter access. Wynberg street trade is already healthy. We’re seeing interest from chains, internationals, and were recently approached by a Malaysian group for space. 

The Southern African Footwear & Leather Industries Association (SAFLIA) has new premises at 34 Essex Terrace, Westville. Executive director designate Zamani Oliphant said last week they were “still moving in”, but expected to be ready to welcome visitors this week. 

Baar, Switzerland – SGS will host a complimentary webinar, “China Market Update and 2025 Spot-check Failure Analysis,” taking place on 22 and 23 April 2026.

China remains one of the world’s most dynamic consumer markets, but it also enforces some of the strictest product quality supervision systems. With authorities increasing inspections and new and updated GB standards coming into force, textile, apparel and footwear businesses face growing pressure to ensure product accuracy, proper labelling and full compliance with mandatory requirements.

SGS’s expert led webinar will provide a clear, practical overview of the latest developments shaping China’s softlines regulatory landscape. The session will examine the most common noncompliance issues identified through 2025 market spot checks, outline core GB standard obligations and highlight key regulatory and standards updates that companies should prepare for. Presenters Sicy Chen and Debbie Hodgson will also share insights into typical failure patterns, challenges in global supply chains and tools available to reduce compliance risk.

Attendees will learn how SGS solutions can help brands, retailers and manufacturers meet China’s requirements, prevent costly market-entry delays and strengthen product credibility in this highly regulated market.

This webinar is ideal for softlines brands, retailers, manufacturers, quality professionals and compliance managers working with or targeting the Chinese market.

Interested parties should register now for more information. 

Gaborone, Botswana – “The beginning of the year is always slow,” The Kit Group manager Gar Dhitoo said on Saturday. “I’m not concerned. Security is big business here. We have our clients, and there are new tenders coming out. We’ll get there.” 

Benoni, Gauteng, SA – “We’ve done fantastically well,” Graham Butler, manager of Ekspa’s Benoni store, said on Saturday. “Part of it is very prominent displays, and old stock on promotion, but a large part of it is sales incentives. We have a lot of temporary sales staff over this period, and we teach them to sell from the bottom up – shoes, socks, skirts, and so on, so they don’t miss any products. We have a competition for them, and we push sales to the limit.”