Cape Town, W Cape, SA – Former Bolton Footwear sales development manager Jody Henry has left Bolton Footwear to join The Basic Group.
       Bolton group sales & creative executive Stuart Hopwood said no-one had taken over his specific portfolio as it had been restructured. The Jordan and Renegade brands are now part of Marc Lailvaux's portfolio while Anton Fabi is now part of the men's formal portfolio.

Durban, KZN, SA – Hayley Roberts, former brand merchant for ladies' and girls' footwear at Mr Price, has joined Labora Shoes as a designer for its women's fashion brands Flourish and ICHUME, aimed at the general retail market.

Durban, KZN, SA – The SAFLIA AGM and dinner will be held at Zimbali, north of Durban, on August 6. This is the same venue as last year.
       "Traditionally, SAFLIA has rotated its AGMs between KZN and the Western Cape," executive director Jirka Vymetal said. "However, since there are now far more manufacturers in KZN, it makes much more logistical sense for the foreseeable future to hold our AGMs here to allow for a bigger turnout."
       The SAFLIA management committee will meet in the morning, followed by the closed AGM, an open session, and the dinner for invited guests and partners. Invitations will be sent out shortly.

Johannesburg (SA) – Dangee Carken has appointed Jono Mail as the new brand manager for Roberto Morino.
       He has had 15 years’ experience in the footwear industry with Norton Wellworth Agencies brands Galeon and Senor Footwear and is second generation in the footwear industry.
       With Billy Mail being his father, he has been taught by the best in leather shoe design, and has a passion for quality leather shoes.
       He joined Dangee Carken on February 1 and is currently showing Winter 18. We believe that the demand for quality in leather footwear is on the rise and price being the most key factor which Roberto Marino is just that. Jono can be contacted on 082-379-4846.

Durban (SA) – Angel Footwear is launching a new leather sneaker range under the label Evox. Antoine Lailvaux, the developer of this brand, describes them as "on trend fashion, whereby fashion styling and sports shoe technology hybridise to create an exciting segment of fashion footwear". - +27 (0)31 83 270 0256, ant@alagencies.co.za

Cape Town (SA) – The SARS footwear task team decided on a minimum reference price for safety footwear imports at its third meeting on February 6, but it is not clear what the price will be.
       Geraldine Fröhling from SARS' communication department responded to questions from S&V:
I know from the previous meeting that the focus of the task team currently is reaching consensus on a reference price for safety footwear imports. What price has been agreed?
• The information on reference pricing is confidential as it is a risk tool used to manage the risk of possible undervaluation on identified high risk goods. Reference pricing is not a minimum price – it is merely, as said, a risk tool used to alert possible under-valuation of imported goods.

If you cannot give me that agreed reference price, please explain why you can't and when importers will be told what the reference price will be.

• Importers will not be informed about risk rules as all types of risk rules are confidential in nature and the risk rules change as and when the risk levels change from high to low risk. Risk rules are part of the internal controls and cannot be shared with traders as this will compromise the required controls.

Why is the reference price in Rands when the importers buy in US Dollars? Surely that prejudices them?

• The reference price is not formulated in South African rands but in US$.

When will the reference price be applied?

• The implementation date is dependent on the section managing the risk engine but it is envisaged to be 1 March 2018 unless otherwise the risk level on such commodity has dropped. How many pairs are currently being imported under the reference price?

• 1 373 856 pairs.

       Please note that the mere fact that goods will be alerted by the risk engine for possible under-valuation, it is not at that stage regarded as an outright fact that the goods are indeed under-valuated. SARS will call for supporting documents and if necessary a valuation audit will be conducted based on the required documents and the risk identified. If the value as declared by the importer is confirmed to be a price paid or payable, the goods may then be released as entered. If any contravention of the Customs and Excise Act is detected, the goods will be dealt with in terms of the provisions for the particular contravention as provided for in the Customs and Excise Act.