S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.7 No.28, July 12 2021
This Newsletter is sponsored by SAFLIA
Please note: Click on any ad to go to the advertiser’s website
Zuma protests shut down KZN industry
It appears the entire leather value chain in KZN has spontaneously closed as rioters, supposedly protesting the imprisonment of Jacob Zuma, have gone on a looting rampage around the province, concentrating on a number of malls and CBDs.
Outside of those specific areas, apparel retailers appear not to have been looted, but everyone contacted didn't open today.
Hetesh Daya of Daya & Sons Tailors & Outfitters in Durban's CBD said the looters appeared to have concentrated on foreign-owned supermarkets, and that some close to his shop had been hit. He expected to open only on Wednesday.
Suresh Parekh of Bachelors Classic in Palm Boulevard, Umhlanga, also didn't open today, but was otherwise unaffected.
Shehnaz Desai of Fashion Feet in KwaDukuza (Stanger) didn't open. "Several shops close to us have been looted, but thank God we have not," she said. She said liquor stores, food stores and electronics stores appeared to have been the main targets.
Jay Ghëla of Ghëla Outfitters in Pietermaritzburg didn't open. "We haven't been there, but I'm sure if something had happened to the shop we'd have heard about it," he said. His said he knew of one outfitter which had been looted. We were unable to contact the owner, so have not named it.
While retailers were the main targets, manufacturers and component suppliers didn't open either.
In Pietermaritzburg, Dick Whittington Shoes MD Arveen Boodhoo said the factory was closed until further notice. "We're close to 2 malls which have been burnt down," he said. "There's no access to our premises."
Audibly despondent, he said looting was one thing, "but why burn the buildings down afterwards?"
In Pinetown, Apeco MD Mark Gibbings said he had gone to work, but that "driving along Shepstone Road was like running the gauntlet" of people streaming from neighbouring townships towards the CBD, where looting is widespread.
He said he and everyone else in the area had gone home. "This is a disaster of huge proportions," he said.
In Shallcross, Durban, Labora Shoes director Desmond Chunderlal said his business took the decision yesterday not to open this morning. He said so far as he knew, all footwear factories in his area and neighbouring Chatsworth were closed.
"It's ridiculous," he said. "After everything we've been through, this is extremely demotivating."
On the edge of Durban's CBD, protective wear manufacturer Leo Garments circularised an email saying it was "closed due to unrest".
Appeal for help
George, W. Cape, SA – Chris Greyling, an over 50-year veteran of the footwear industry, is seeking urgent financial help from friends and colleagues to fund surgery this week, without which he will almost certainly die.
His son and business partner, Jason, has posted a description on his Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/jason.greyling) of his father's condition - the result of a fall in April this year which caused an undetected slow brain haemorrhage - and also of the R150 000 required for the urgent second surgery needed to save his life. His plea has been backed by Grant Munro of Freestyle Footwear and Hugo Zuanni of Leather Link.
A Pietermaritzburg boy, Chris entered the footwear industry in 1970 as a last model maker with then MM United's Pietermaritzburg plant.
He joined C&J Clark's Pietermaritzburg factory for a short period before moving to another famed Pietermaritzburg factory, Austin Shoes, and the even more famous Amshoe, owned by Roy Eckstein.
He set up his own summer sandal factory, Wanda Leather Works (named after his daughter) in 2003 supplying Shoe City and Mr Price, which lasted for 7 years.
From there he joined Freestyle in Cape Town for 3 years before setting up Innovative Footwear in George doing CMT for Watson Shoes. After 12 years, it became a fully fledged stitch down plant.
Over this entire period, he has had exceptionally good health, which lulled him into not bothering to take out medical aid. A first operation in June wiped out his savings, and he is now appealing for help to get him through this stage.
Donations to Nedbank account holder JC Greyling, account number 1185718591, branch code 198765.
Stock Exchange News Services (SENS)
Truworths - New head for Office
Cape Town, W. Cape, SA (06 July, 2021) – Truworths has announced that it has appointed Jon Richens as designate managing director of Office Holdings Ltd. (“Office”), the Group’s sneaker and shoe retailing subsidiary based in the United Kingdom, with effect from 6 July 2021.
He succeeds Kerry van der Merwe who is leaving Office in the next few months to pursue another career opportunity.
They Said It
"The article by Eagle Clothing is right on the button. You can see the guys who are close to their merchandise and consumer." - Greg Bing, A.P. Jones, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA, referring to a report in last week's Newsletter.
"I trust that you’re maintaining a stoic demeanour amidst the bedlam?" - Rafiq Hajat, Footwear Centre Ltd., Blantyre, Malawi.
"My apologies, when life throws you lemons, grab that bottle of Tequila and find some salt !!! With the new adjusted or re-adjusted (who knows anymore) lockdown level 4, I thought the perfect time to finalize financial year end. Yourself and my partner made other arrangements …. My priorities are in this order GOD, WIFE, SARS …… and everything else thereafter!" - Rajesh Raghunandan, Sew Solutions, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA. The first 3 must be taking up a lot of his time...we STILL haven't heard from him.
Directory and Calendar updates
The S&V Directory and the S&V Calendar are dynamic documents, undergoing ongoing constant updating. Readers are therefore advised to refer to them at least once a week.
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
12/07/1970: Guy Blake, agent, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
13/07/1954: Peter Handley, Coventry Shoes, Durban, KZN, SA.
14/07/1969: Veronica Clausen (nee Haupt), Clicka Heels, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
14/07/1971: Laurence Lotzoff, Dale Footwear, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
15/07/1933: Joe Powell, retired, formerly Footwork, Trafalgar, KZN, SA.
15/07/1950: Joram Philip Wakari, agent and retired former director of the Leather Association of Tanzania, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
15/07/1971: Philipp Rein, Thurling Investments, Mossel Bay, W. Cape, SA.
16/07/1954: Lex Devlin, emigrated, formerly ACA Threads, Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA.
16/07/1956: AR Noorbhai, Razno Agencies, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
16/07/1974: Marisca Ras, The Health Shoe Shop, Pretoria, Gauteng, SA.
17/07/1947: Hennie van der Merwe, chairman, KKI board, Oudtshoorn, W. Cape, SA.
18/07/1950: Magda Erlank, Me Boutique, Newcastle, KZN, SA.
18/07/1963: Peter Colombo, formerly Hippo Bag & Screen [closed], Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
18/07/1996: Marno Koen, Vellie Boutique, Boksburg, Gauteng, SA.
18/07/1973: Sanjay Bhagwandas, Ginger Bhagwandas Exclusive, Durban, KZN, SA.
18/07/1974: Zunaid Gathoo, Shoe Zone, Sasolburg, Free State, SA.
In Memoriam this week
12/07/2015: Hessen Bernado (b. 19/07/1959), Bagshaw Footwear, Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA.
16/07/2004: Frederick (Fred) Howard (b. 16/02/1918), King Tanning Company [closed], King William’s Town, E. Cape, SA.
17/07/1979: Abe Smidt, agent, Bolton Footwear, Johannesburg, Gauteng, 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 ¥ |
| 2021/05/22 |
R17.00 |
R19.75 |
R13.96 |
R2.16 |
| 2021/05/29 |
R16.79 |
R19.56 |
R13.77 |
R2.16 |
| 2021/06/05 |
R16.84 |
R19.49 |
R13.76 |
R2.15 |
| 2021/06/19 |
R17.03 |
R19.82 |
R14.36 |
R2.22 |
| 2021/06/26 |
R16.88 |
R19.63 |
R14.14 |
R2.19 |
| 2021/07/03 |
R16.91 |
R19.70 |
R14.25 |
R2.20 |
| 2021/07/12 |
R17.04 |
R19.91 |
R14.35 |
R2.21 |
Note: For previous rates, see HERE
2. Botswana Pula (BWP)
Source: https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/
| |
Euro € |
GBP £ |
US $ |
CNY ¥ |
| 2021/05/22 |
13.06 |
15.18 |
10.73 |
1.66 |
| 2021/05/29 |
12.97 |
15.10 |
10.63 |
1.67 |
| 2021/06/05 |
13.01 |
15.05 |
10.62 |
1.66 |
| 2021/06/19 |
12.82 |
14.92 |
10.81 |
1.67 |
| 2021/06/26 |
12.97 |
15.09 |
10.87 |
1.68 |
| 2021/07/03 |
12.95 |
15.09 |
10.91 |
1.68 |
| 2021/07/12 |
12.96 |
15.15 |
10.92 |
1.68 |
3. Malawian Kwacha (MWK)
Source: https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/
| |
Euro € |
GBP £ |
US $ |
CNY ¥ |
| 2021/05/22 |
968.84 |
1125.67 |
795.46 |
123.62 |
| 2021/05/29 |
963.70 |
1122.37 |
790.24 |
124.09 |
| 2021/06/05 |
970.94 |
1129.95 |
798.14 |
124.80 |
| 2021/06/19 |
948.37 |
1103.68 |
799.43 |
123.88 |
| 2021/06/26 |
961.88 |
1118.55 |
805.90 |
124.84 |
| 2021/07/03 |
958.45 |
1116.77 |
807.73 |
124.79 |
| 2021/07/12 |
952.21 |
1112.73 |
802.19 |
123.93 |
4. Zambian Kwacha (ZMW)
Source: https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/
| |
Euro € |
GBP £ |
US $ |
CNY ¥ |
| 2021/05/22 |
27.44 |
31.88 |
22.53 |
3.50 |
| 2021/05/29 |
27.42 |
31.93 |
22.48 |
3.53 |
| 2021/06/05 |
27.51 |
32.02 |
22.61 |
3.53 |
| 2021/06/19 |
26.85 |
31.26 |
22.64 |
3.50 |
| 2021/06/26 |
27.04 |
31.46 |
22.66 |
3.51 |
| 2021/07/03 |
26.95 |
31.40 |
22.71 |
3.50 |
| 2021/07/12 |
26.89 |
31.42 |
22.65 |
3.49 |
5. Zimbabwean Dollar (ZWL$)
Source: https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/
| |
Euro € |
GBP £ |
US $ |
CNY ¥ |
Official US$ |
| 2021/05/22 |
440.78 |
512.13 |
361.90 |
56.24 |
84.64 |
| 2021/05/29 |
441.28 |
513.93 |
361.90 |
56.82 |
84.72 |
| 2021/06/05 |
440.25 |
512.35 |
361.90 |
56.59 |
84.76 |
| 2021/06/19 |
429.31 |
499.67 |
361.90 |
56.08 |
85.24 |
| 2021/06/26 |
431.93 |
502.29 |
361.90 |
56.06 |
85.36 |
| 2021/07/03 |
429.42 |
500.36 |
361.90 |
55.91 |
85.42 |
| 2021/07/12 |
429.43 |
501.85 |
361.90 |
55.90 |
85.50 |
ABSA Agri Trends: Hides & skins prices
Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA (July 07, 2021) - The current average hide price increased by 15.6% to R9.53/kg from R8.25/kg a week ago. The current price is 17.4% higher than the average price a month ago and is 1205.8% higher than the average price a year ago. Market stakeholders are continuing to note tight supplies. 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, 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 |
| 2021/02/05 |
3.86 |
31.41 |
45.71 |
| 2021/02/12 |
4.33 |
35.46 |
45.83 |
| 2021/02/19 |
4.29 |
34.49 |
50.00 |
| 2021/02/26 |
4.94 |
34.70 |
47.50 |
| 2021/03/05 |
5.67 |
38.33 |
51.67 |
| 2021/03/12 |
4.80 |
42.50 |
59.17 |
| 2021/03/19 |
4.99 |
35.74 |
52.86 |
| 2021/03/26 |
6.33 |
35.16 |
55.00 |
| 2021/04/02 |
6.50 |
31.83 |
49.00 |
| 2021/04/16 |
8.98 |
37.44 |
50.00 |
| 2021/04/22 |
8.37 |
|
|
| 2021/04/29 |
8.98 |
40.96 |
62.00 |
| 2021/05/06 |
7.56 |
40.96 |
62.00 |
| 2021/05/24 |
7.82 |
40.83 |
61.67 |
| 2021/05/28 |
7.47 |
|
|
| 2021/06/14 |
8.34 |
40.83 |
61.67 |
| 2021/06/24 |
8.31 |
|
|
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:
Fashion Centre, Kroonstad, Free State, SA. Family outfitter.
Fashion Fusion, Pinetown, KZN, SA. Family outfitter.
Contact us
News & Classifieds: Tony Dickson, +27 (0)31 209 7505, tony@svmag.co.za
Next newsletter: July 19, 2021.
SAFLIA enquiries: Tel 0800SAFLIA * Email info@saflia.co.za * Website http://www.saflia.co.za
Our website www.svmag.co.za
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