S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.7 No.10, March 8 2021
This Newsletter is sponsored by SAFLIA
Please note: Click on any ad to go to the advertiser’s website
Business
Namibia
Hoped-for upturn hasn't happened yet
Windhoek – Most businesses had expected an improvement in the economy at the beginning of the year, but in fact conditions had continued to decline, said commission agent Neurath Botha, who represents Bolton Footwear and Kaytex Belts.
"One of the most important economic drivers here is tourism," he said, "and that's basically still closed. Our borders are open to some of our key tourist countries, like Germany, but they still regard us as a red zone, so any German tourist visiting Namibia faces 3 weeks' quarantine, at his own expense, when he goes home. That's unaffordable."
One of the victims of the tourist falloff has been the government-owned airline, Air Namibia, which has gone into liquidation.
He said retail closures had escalated. Most of the closures have been branches of South African-owned chains, but some formerly important local retailers have closed or scaled down.
"It's quite frightening walking through the malls at the moment," he said.
How to cope? "It's all about price at the moment," he said. "People are buying down."
South Africa
Zed Menswear: Level 1 has been great - so far
Cape Town, W. Cape – Business for top end men's boutique Zed Menswear "has picked up very favourably" since the return to lockdown level 1, member Selwyn Levinthal said, "but I don't know how long it will last."
"When the lockdown went back to level 3, business went into freefall. Before that, it had been good. Our experience with the various lockdown measures has made us much more cautious."
Zed's outlet is in a luxury hotel, the MariottCrystal Towers, in Century City, and a high percentage of its clientele is foreign. "We have a unique model, at least in this country," he said. "We measure every customer individually, and we work with them to decide their own, personal look. We have links with factories in Europe which custom make clothing to those designs."
Zed is planning a similar arrangement for footwear with a factory in Spain.
It is also planning a second store, in Rosebank, Johannesburg, which he said he hoped would open by mid-year.
Zed also has an online business, but "it's online in the sense that when we have your measurements, we can deal with you online, but not really prior to that".
Has the pandemic affected the way Zed does business? "We've become a bit more commercial," he said. "Our shirts mostly retail for R4000; now we're offering some for R2000, R2500."
Yankees: Month-end spending spree
Rustenburg, N.W. Province – Overall, February was "a good month", said Anver Carrim, member of men's outfitter Colam Trading cc, trading as Yankees.
"Over the last 4 days, the 24th to the 27th, there was a lot of movement and sales, which pushed us up, figure-wise.
"I can't really explain it. It was a spending spree, I think people saved money during the booze ban, and I think people needed to get out and shop."
He said he was buying less expensive and more core styles, "but in fact I've increased my buy - I feel stock is safer, provided you stick with core products, like basic Grasshoppers and traditional and classic Bishop and Crockett & Jones. The reps are also encouraging me to stick with basics."
Competition Tribunal
SAPS face mask supplier accused of excessive pricing
Pretoria, Gauteng, SA (March 08, 2021) – A Covid-19 excessive pricing case, involving the supply of 500 000 surgical face masks to the South African Police Service (SAPS) for its employees, will start in the Tribunal today.
Tsutsumani Business Enterprises cc supplies a variety of products, required mainly by government, through tenders issued by departments and municipalities. It is accused by the Competition Commission of charging the SAPS excessive prices for 500 000 3-ply surgical face masks in April 2020, in response to a request for quotes (RFQ) issued by the SAPS for the procurement of personal protective equipment.
In papers before the Tribunal, the Commission says that the SAPS, given the central role that it was to play in the control of the Covid-19 pandemic, was under pressure at the time to acquire PPE for its employees as quickly as possible. In addition, the SAPS was stuck with only the suppliers who responded to the RFQ, regardless of the price. Tsutsumani was one of 18 suppliers contracted to supply the SAPS with face masks. The SAPS had wanted to procure a total of 10-million face masks at the time.
Tsutsumani has denied the excessive pricing allegations.
The hearing is set down for today and tomorrow. The Tribunal expects to hear submissions from both the Commission and Tsutsumani. Those wishing to follow the online proceedings are requested to contact the Tribunal’s Communications Officer to access the online hearing link. - Gillian de Gouveia, communications officer, +27 (0)82 410 1195, GillianD@comptrib.co.za
Bargaining Council
Council seeks former workers who are owed money
Durban, KZN, SA – The Leather Bargaining Council is trying to find the below mentioned persons who worked at Trafford Trading (part of the Spectrum Group) between the period 1 May 2003 and 24 February 2004. The Bargaining Council is holding monies that are due to them and would like to give them their money. The Bargaining Council encourages these persons or someone who might know them to contact Ms Shirley Reddy from the Bargaining Council to guide them through the process of claiming their money.
Ms Reddy can be contacted via telephone number 031 305 8230 or email - accounts@nbcli.co.za.
The people are (name, date of birth, last known address):
Malcolm Moonsamy, 29/09/1981 9 Bowclay Place, Clayfield, Phoenix; Angamma Devnunan, 17/12/1960 177 Oakdale Crescent, Newlands West; Anandhan Chetty, 14/6/1968, No address; S. Naidoo 08/08/1974 No address; Subramoney Govindsamy Govender, 16/05/1965, 130 Mondene Drive, Croftdene, Chatsworth; Kevin Reddy 28/08/1976, 87 Road 718, Montford, Chatsworth; Nitesh Devnunan, 20/05/1984, 177 Oakdale Crescent, Newlands West; Munesh Madhan 21/05/1972, 77 Kapato Street, Arena Park, Chatsworth; Krishnavelli Moodley, 28/12/1942 71 Swallow Haven, Unit 21, Foresthaven, Phoenix; Deenadayalan Naidoo, 05/02/1965, 189 Glenover Road, Westcliff, Chatsworth; M.G.A Nyman, 16/06/1972, No address; Indrani Govender, 04/10/1949, 49 Oakdale Crescent, Newlands West; Rosalind Mohan, 09/04/1977, 53 Rain Bird Close, Rainham, Phoenix; R. Singh, No details, No address; P.S. Mnqayi, 15/09/1979, No address; Charles Bradley Munsamy, No details, 368 Westridge Road, Newlands West; K. Appalsamy, No details, No address; Jayshree Naicker, 27/05/1976, No address; D.R Appalsamy, 10/10/1967, 428 Longbury Drive, Phoenix; G. Moonsamy, 20/07/1952, 9 Bowclay Place, Clayfield, Phoenix; Ragni Sanichara, 20/02/1965 22 Trenance Park Drive, Trenance Manor, Phoenix; Rajendran Govender, 02/05/1976, 263 Himalaya Drive, Shallcross; Deepak Jowahir, 16/09/1978, No address; Emerencia Ntombintombi Mtshali 15/10/1959 LB 452, Kwa Mashu; R. Rajkumar No details No address; Hansrani Bhola, 25/01/1967, 7 Sandfern Garden, Unit 10, Phoenix; Lutchmee Naicker, 01/12/1965, 16 Treehaven Road, Unit 21 Phoenix; Fathima Ayoub, 04/04/1953, 10 Landsbrook Road, Brookdale, Phoenix; Lilendhran Munien, 19/09/1970, 61 Keyford Close, Sunford, Phoenix; Richard Mzobanzi Goba, 03/05/1970, No address; Mark Venketsamy, 19/11/1984, 66 Swallowhaven Rd , Foresthaven, Phoenix; K. Naidoo, No details, No address; Nogambal Chetty, 22/04/1973, 33 Royalhill Road , Hillgrove; N. Hoosen, 26/03/1962, 64 Road 743, Montford, Chatsworth; Muthusamy Padayachee, 20/03/1959, 30 Pargate Osborne, Ottawa; Obedience Jali, 20/08/1973, K2102 Newlands Heights, Kwa Mashu; Dhanasagren Pillay, 31/07/1973, 3 Turncroft Road, Unit 8 Longcroft, Phoenix
They Said It
"We've had Cape Town weather here for the last 5 days - wet and cold. Today it's 17°C, which for us is 2 jackets and tracksuit bottoms weather." - ConsulTan's Johnny Kleynhans, writing from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
"it's a glorious spring day here. The sun's shining and it's 6°C..." - Retired leather technician Ken Moakes, now living in Northampton, UK. 6°!!! I guess central heating trumps extra layers.
Got anything you'd like to share?
Do you have any suggestions, comments or experiences about the lockdown that you'd like to share with the industry? We will publish the throughout the lockdown, so please let us know. - tony@svmag.co.za
08/03/1958: Gary van Rooyen, New Balance SA, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
08/03/1962: Rajesh Kulwa, Apeco, Pinetown, KZN, SA.
08/03/1966: Yamraj Deeplal, Foot Flair, Amanzimtoti, KZN, SA.
09/03/1967: PJ Moloisane, Trade & Investment SA, Sandton, Gauteng, SA.
09/03/1982: Romal Sewsunker, Sunstep Footwear, Durban, KZN, SA.
10/03/1951: Mrs M Balakrishnan, Malar Industries, Ndola, Zambia.
10/03/1958: Nigel Dunning, Mimosa Extract Co., Pietermaritzburg, KZN, SA.
11/03/1956: Sarah Gedye, Michelle Footwear, Durban, KZN, SA.
11/03/1959: André Meyer, Green Cross, Bloemfontein, Free State, SA.
13/03/1964: Albert Dale, AFD Industries, Pretoria, Gauteng, SA.
11/03/1968: Brett Laing, Grounded, Cape Town. W. Cape, SA.
12/03/1937: Alastair MacGregor, retired, formerly MD, Colin D. Bailey [absorbed by BU Technical, since closed], Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA.
12/03/1966: Matthew Hansen, CL Hansen Agencies, Durban, KZN, SA.
12/03/1988: Mohamed Yaseen Jeewa, Traford Footwear, Durban, KZN, SA.
13/03/1959: Salim Moosajee, Seltex, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
13/03/1965: Eleugene Human, Johnson Controls SA, Uitenhage, E. Cape, SA.
13/03/1977: Sarah Chapman, designer, Durban, KZN, SA.
13/03/1981: Colin Muir, emigrated, formerly Pasacojo Marketing Services, Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA.
14/03/1958: Berno Dumas, Watson Shoes, Great Brak River, W. Cape, SA.
14/03/1966: Silvan Pillay, Shoe Biz, Pretoria, Gauteng, SA.
In Memoriam this week
09/03/2016: David Opie (b. 11/01/1963), Hippo Bag & Screen [closed], Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
10/03/2004: Steven Naidoo, Nasron Footwear, Durban, KZN, SA.
10/03/2017: Kevin 'Tubby' Hannaford (b. 05/11/1949), Moulded Footwear Components, Durban, KZN, SA.
11/03/1993: Doug Roberts, Clarks SA/Kingsley Shoes [both closed], Pietermaritzburg, KZN, SA.
11/03/2005: Des Orme, (b. 27/11/1924), Panama Shoes [closed], Durban, KZN, SA.
11/03/2013: Donald Henry Gough (b. 02/07/1922), Barker Footwear/FMF, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
13/03/1997: Denis Kalil, Payless Shoes, Durban, KZN, SA.
14/03/1988: John Begg, BU Shoe Machinery, Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA.
Have you let us know about your birthday, or the birthdays of your colleagues? Our readers love this section, so please become part of it. This also applies to the In Memoriam section. Help us remember former colleagues.
Exchange rates
1. SA Rand (ZAR)/Lesotho Loti (LSL)/Namibian Dollar (NAD)/Swazi Lilangeni (SZL)
Source: http://www.x-rates.com/calculator/
| |
Euro € |
GBP £ |
US $ |
CNY ¥ |
| 2020/12/05 |
R18.42 |
R20.42 |
R15.20 |
R2.32 |
| 2020/12/12 |
R18.34 |
R20.03 |
R15.14 |
R2.31 |
| 2020/12/19 |
R17.81 |
R19.65 |
R14.53 |
R2.22 |
| 2020/12/26 |
R17.80 |
R19.68 |
R14.59 |
R2.23 |
| 2021/01/02 |
R17.95 |
R20.08 |
R14.68 |
R2.24 |
| 2021/01/09 |
R18.69 |
R20.74 |
R15.29 |
R2.36 |
| 2021/01/16 |
R18.39 |
R20.68 |
R15.22 |
R2.34 |
| 2021/01/23 |
R18.42 |
R20.71 |
R15.14 |
R2.33 |
| 2021/01/30 |
R18.40 |
R20.78 |
R15.16 |
R2.35 |
| 2021/02/06 |
R17.88 |
R20.38 |
R14.84 |
R2.29 |
| 2021/02/13 |
R17.63 |
R20.14 |
R14.55 |
R2.25 |
| 2021/02/20 |
R17.79 |
R20.57 |
R14.68 |
R2.26 |
| 2021/02/27 |
R18.25 |
R21.05 |
R15.12 |
R2.33 |
| 2021/03/06 |
R18.30 |
R21.26 |
R15.36 |
R2.36 |
Note: For previous rates, see HERE
2. Botswana Pula (BWP)
Source: https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/
| |
Euro € |
GBP £ |
US $ |
CNY ¥ |
| 2020/12/05 |
13.36 |
14.81 |
11.02 |
1.68 |
| 2020/12/12 |
13.27 |
14.50 |
10.96 |
1.67 |
| 2020/12/19 |
13.21 |
14.58 |
10.78 |
1.65 |
| 2020/12/26 |
13.19 |
14.58 |
10.81 |
1.65 |
| 2021/01/02 |
13.17 |
14.75 |
10.79 |
1.65 |
| 2021/01/09 |
13.19 |
14.63 |
10.79 |
1.66 |
| 2021/01/16 |
13.29 |
14.93 |
10.99 |
1.69 |
| 2021/01/23 |
13.33 |
14.99 |
10.95 |
1.69 |
| 2021/01/30 |
13.37 |
15.10 |
11.02 |
1.71 |
| 2021/02/06 |
13.23 |
15.08 |
10.98 |
1.69 |
| 2021/02/13 |
13.30 |
15.19 |
10.97 |
1.69 |
| 2021/02/20 |
13.12 |
15.17 |
10.83 |
1.66 |
| 2021/02/27 |
13.17 |
15.19 |
10.91 |
1.68 |
| 2021/03/06 |
13.08 |
15.20 |
10.98 |
1.69 |
3. Malawian Kwacha (MWK)
Source: https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/
| |
Euro € |
GBP £ |
US $ |
CNY ¥ |
| 2020/12/05 |
926.76 |
1027.46 |
764.52 |
117.04 |
| 2020/12/12 |
925.52 |
1010.82 |
764.06 |
116.73 |
| 2020/12/19 |
939.48 |
1036.81 |
766.84 |
117.34 |
| 2020/12/26 |
938.70 |
1037.73 |
769.62 |
117.63 |
| 2021/01/02 |
941.20 |
1053.64 |
770.57 |
118.00 |
| 2021/01/09 |
944.79 |
1048.60 |
772.99 |
119.37 |
| 2021/01/16 |
934.87 |
1050.81 |
773.46 |
119.35 |
| 2021/01/23 |
940.27 |
1057.01 |
772.53 |
119.19 |
| 2021/01/30 |
934.58 |
1055.41 |
770.00 |
119.79 |
| 2021/02/06 |
935.16 |
1066.25 |
776.26 |
120.04 |
| 2021/02/13 |
941.10 |
1074.93 |
776.44 |
120.22 |
| 2021/02/20 |
943.91 |
1091.50 |
778.83 |
120.07 |
| 2021/02/27 |
943.34 |
1088.25 |
781.40 |
120.60 |
| 2021/03/06 |
930.18 |
1080.40 |
780.90 |
120.19 |
4. Zambian Kwacha (ZMW)
Source: https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/
| |
Euro € |
GBP £ |
US $ |
CNY ¥ |
| 2020/12/05 |
25.60 |
28.38 |
21.12 |
3.23 |
| 2020/12/12 |
25.61 |
27.98 |
21.14 |
3.23 |
| 2020/12/19 |
25.94 |
28.63 |
21.18 |
3.24 |
| 2020/12/26 |
25.81 |
28.53 |
21.16 |
3.23 |
| 2021/01/02 |
25.85 |
28.94 |
21.17 |
3.24 |
| 2021/01/09 |
26.02 |
28.87 |
21.28 |
3.28 |
| 2021/01/16 |
25.84 |
29.04 |
21.38 |
3.29 |
| 2021/01/23 |
26.01 |
29.24 |
21.37 |
3.29 |
| 2021/01/30 |
26.07 |
29.44 |
21.48 |
3.34 |
| 2021/02/06 |
25.98 |
29.62 |
21.57 |
3.33 |
| 2021/02/13 |
26.27 |
30.01 |
21.67 |
3.35 |
| 2021/02/20 |
26.28 |
30.39 |
21.68 |
3.34 |
| 2021/02/27 |
26.38 |
30.44 |
21.85 |
3.37 |
| 2021/03/06 |
26.12 |
30.34 |
21.93 |
3.37 |
5. Zimbabwean Dollar (ZWL$)
Source: https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/
| |
Euro € |
GBP £ |
US $ |
CNY ¥ |
Official US$ |
| 2020/12/05 |
438.69 |
486.36 |
361.90 |
55.40 |
81.87 |
| 2020/12/12 |
438.38 |
478.79 |
361.90 |
55.29 |
81.85 |
| 2020/12/19 |
443.37 |
489.30 |
361.90 |
55.37 |
81.73 |
| 2020/12/26 |
441.40 |
487.97 |
361.90 |
55.31 |
81.78 |
| 2021/01/02 |
442.03 |
494.84 |
361.90 |
55.88 |
81.78 |
| 2021/01/09 |
442.33 |
490.92 |
361.90 |
55.88 |
81.78 |
| 2021/01/16 |
437.42 |
491.67 |
361.90 |
55.84 |
82.09 |
| 2021/01/23 |
440.48 |
495.16 |
361.90 |
55.83 |
82.08 |
| 2021/01/30 |
439.25 |
496.03 |
361.90 |
56.30 |
82.67 |
| 2021/02/06 |
435.97 |
497.09 |
361.90 |
55.96 |
83.37 |
| 2021/02/13 |
438.64 |
501.01 |
361.90 |
56.03 |
83.37 |
| 2021/02/20 |
438.61 |
507.18 |
361.90 |
55.79 |
83.75 |
| 2021/02/27 |
436.90 |
504.01 |
361.90 |
55.85 |
83.88 |
| 2021/03/06 |
431.07 |
500.70 |
361.90 |
55.70 |
83.88 |
ABSA Agri Trends: Hides & skins prices
Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA (March 03, 2021) - The current average hide price increased by 12% to R5.50/kg from R4.91/kg a week ago. The current price is 36% higher than the average price a month ago and is 325.1% higher than the average price a year ago. Industry players are still reporting relatively low slaughter numbers combined with strong demand. This is providing price support. NB* Hide prices are determined by the average of the RMAA (Red Meat Abattoir Association) and independent companies. - Abrie Rautenbach, head Absa agribusiness, Marlene Louw, senior agricultural economist, and Paige Bowen, agricultural economist, Absa group.
| Hide & skin price progression |
| Date |
Hides/Kg |
Dorper/Skin |
Merino Skin |
| 2020/11/06 |
2.36 |
26.00 |
44.00 |
| 2020/11/13 |
2.38 |
23.59 |
40.00 |
| 2020/11/20 |
2.69 |
35.00 |
50.00 |
| 2020/11/27 |
3.08 |
36.00 |
49.00 |
| 2020/12/04 |
3.65 |
34.03 |
49.00 |
| 2020/12/11 |
3.68 |
33.21 |
50.83 |
| 2020/12/18 |
3.93 |
32.59 |
51.67 |
| 2021/12/25 |
4.08 |
34.39 |
51.67 |
| 2021/01/01 |
3.93 |
34.03 |
54.00 |
| 2021/01/08 |
3.88 |
31.43 |
46.43 |
| 2021/01/15 |
4.03 |
31.43 |
46.43 |
| 2021/01/22 |
4.16 |
30.00 |
47.00 |
| 2021/01/29 |
4.04 |
33.05 |
50.83 |
Note: For previous prices, see HERE
Have a look at these links
We invite businesses to send us links to websites, Facebook pages and the like which they feel would be of interest to others. The links below are from our database:
De Wet Sports, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA. Sports goods distributor.
Centre of Excellence for Leather Skills, Richmond, KZN, SA. Training school.
Classified Adverts
Design department manager seeks post
Devrajah (Teddy) Moodley, who had 31 years' experience with Michelle Footwear and was design department manager, followed by 2 year with Caprini Footwear as technical manager, seeks employment. He is prepared to relocate outside of Durban if required. A full CV, including references from both companies, is available. Please reply to 083 280 6915, moodleyteddy8@gmail.com
Contact us
News & Classifieds: Tony Dickson, +27 (0)31 209 7505, tony@svmag.co.za
Next newsletter: March 15, 2021.
SAFLIA enquiries: Tel 0800SAFLIA * Email info@saflia.co.za * Website http://www.saflia.co.za
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