S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.9 No.12, March 20 2023

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National Shutdown

Probably mostly sound and fury

The effect of the EFF's 'national shutdown' on retail today is likely to differ by province and shopping area, with high street independents in Limpopo, N.W. Province and Mpumalanga, where the EFF is most numerous, most likely to be closed to prevent looting.
      In Polokwane (Pietersburg), Limpopo, Yahya Tayob, member of family outfitter Ahmed Tayob cc, said he would be closed today, and "90% of retailers in Limpopo" would also be closed. "It's fear and intimidation," he said. He said he also wouldn't be opening tomorrow, a public holiday.
      In Piet Retief, Mpumalanga, Mohsin Badat, proprietor of A. Daya & Sons, said he would be closed today because of intimidation "and the fear of rioting and looting". He believed the majority of independents in Mpumalanga would also be shut.
      In Klerksdorp, N.W. Province, an independent who wanted to be anonymous said: "I'm in a centre, with a racially mixed customer base. On Monday, I'll play it by ear. I'll probably open on Tuesday, even though from experience, public holidays are only really big shopping days if they fall on a Saturday."
      The national chains will probably not open a relatively few vulnerable stores. "The chains all want to open," said a source who wished to be anonymous.
      From the emails I've received from manufacturers, component suppliers and wholesalers, large parts of the rest of the supply chain ARE likely to be closed today, especially with tomorrow's public holiday. However, when considering whether to publish this newsletter today or on Wednesday, I opted for today because I believe whether they're physically at work or not today, most business people will be working.

Safety Footwear

Revised global safety footwear standard: Suppliers fear another backlog and higher costs to get local approval numbers

Pretoria, Gauteng, SA - On Friday, the local safety footwear supply industry learnt the implications of the global revision of ISO 20345, the international standard for safety footwear, and they left the Zoom meeting hosted by the National Regulator for Compulsory Standards (NRCS) sombre.
      A few of them spoke quite heatedly at the meeting, others said nothing.
      Afterwards, most preferred not to be quoted.
      The issue wasn't the revision of the standard, but the effect it would have on getting new NRCS letters of authority (LOAs) on styles for which they already hold LOAs.
      The current standard, SANS 20345 edition 2:2014, "is currently being revised to adopt the ISO 20345:2021 version", said Mahesh Nagessar, SABS standards writer for clothing, footwear, textiles and PPE, paper, board and pulp. "The document is at final stages of editing before it goes out as a Draft South Africa Standard (DSS-public comment) for 60 days. The estimated timeline for public comment will be 01 April to 31 May 2023."
      There are a number of changes to the standard, which will be published in the second quarter edition of S&V Protect, but the most important relate to slip resistance, where both the test method and the required properties have been changed. The SABS - the only local laboratory accredited to test safety footwear - still has equipment for the earlier version, meaning testing would have to be done overseas.
      From the NRCS side, it said the new edition of the referenced standard would become effective 6 months from date of publication.
      The requirements of the new standard would become effective 2 years after that - 30 months in all.
      It said holders of already approved types of safety footwear would have 30 months:
- To meet the new requirements;
- To apply for and get approval under the new standard.
      However, it said testing (of already approved styles) "can be limited to new and revised requirements [of the new standard]".
      Safety footwear suppliers - local manufacturers and importers - say getting LOAs takes a long time.
      "The NRCS has reported that over the last year, it has cleared its backlog of approvals," said one. "This, in my opinion, will create a new backlog.
            "The NRCS admits it doesn't have the capacity, the staff, to handle all the applications at once, and asked us to apply early within the 30 months to mitigate the risk of receiving the renewed certificates of current styles too late.
            "I hope in future we will receive formal communication on timelines, how long we can trade existing stock with old markings after we have received new certification, the testing capability of the SABS and the homologation capacity of NRCS.
      "What they will be trying to cope with is new applications PLUS re-certifying all currently traded safety footwear.
      "This is a tough one as it can affect future revenue in already tough market conditions."
      Said another: "Even after all this time, it takes an incredibly long time to get an LOA. It’s taken importers/manufacturers and the NRCS approximately 8 years to get authorisation for the current styles in the market. Now they’re expecting us to re-authorise all those styles in 30 months? Along with the other products that we want to introduce…? We're not confident that this is possible.
        "The NRCS asks for feedback, but if we are critical, their reaction is quite hostile," he added. "We just have to live with it."
      A third offered some praise - with a caveat: "We've walked a long road with the NRCS, and have seen improvements and a willingness to work together. We don't want to jeopardise that."

2023 Arsutoria course correction

Durban, KZN, SA - In the article last week about the Arsutoria footwear and handbag workshop next month, the contact email address for Priya Ramklawan, Ethekwini Footwear & Leather Cluster project officer at SAFLEC, was incorrect. It is priya.eep@saflec.co.za.
      SAFLIA, SAFLEC and Ethekwini Footwear & Leather Cluster will sponsor and organise another 5-day footwear and handbag workshop run by Arsutoria's Edizioni AF from 17 to 21 April at the Coastlands Musgrave Hotel.
      Attendance is free, but spaces are limited.

Death notice

Durban, KZN, SA - Bob Brown, founder of Crown Footwear, died on Sunday, aged 88.

In case you missed it!

The March issue of S&V African Leather Magazine

CLICK HERE TO VIEW IT ONLINE

S&V African Leather Magazine Vol17 No3 March 2023
IN THIS ISSUE:

03 Upfront
- A new quip from Sam Setter in each issue.
- Ostrich: Burden still falls on leather.
-- Avian Influenza situation by the SAOBC's Piet Kleyn.
-- The export situation for ostrich meat by CKI's Francois de Wet.
- SHALC 'still operational' says exco member Gert Kruger.

08 An Eclectic View
- Abiotic versus biotic: When you're considering the composting of leather, you need to know the difference, writes H. Procter.

09 Sustainability
- Finally, the Sustainable Leather Foundation is able to make it to India, writes MD Deborah Taylor. And SLF signs a memorandum of agreement with Assomac.

11 Weights & Measures
- Compiled by the ISTT.

12 Notice Board
- 2023 winners of IULTCS Young Leather Scientist grants.
- River Thames 'mudlarker' finds 16th Century archer's leather wrist guard.

14 Textiles
- Cotton: Climate change demands new varieties, better water management, and flexibility, says the International Cotton Advisory Committee.

15 Trade Statistics
- SA hides, skins and leather trade statistics for January 2023, issued by SARS.

15 Agriculture
- A negative 4th quarter GDP 2022 outcomes as expected, but 'not a serious concern', writes FNB's Paul Makube.



Advertisers in this Issue
Authenticae (08), Evolution Engineering (01), International School of Tanning Technology (ISTT) (02), Italtan (12), Mimosa (05), Rolfes Leather Division (OFC), S&V Directory (14), Southern African Footwear & Leather Export Council (SAFLEC) (07), Sustainable Leather Foundation (03).

They Said It

"Sorry I cannot offer you much in response except to say that the existing combat boots are not spec’d to be used to walk in water." - Arveen Boodhoo, MD, Dick Whittington Shoes, Pietermaritzburg, KZN, SA, in response to an article on Defence Web on poor morale in the SA National Defence Force caused by (among other things) "issues such as poor rations while deployed in Mozambique, combat boots which deteriorate rapidly in tropical climates like the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and expired ration packs." Dicks makes all combat boots used by the SANDF.

Directory entries updated last week

FST Manufacturers [FQ Manufacturers (Pty) Ltd], Durban, KZN, SA.
FST Manufacturers, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
FST Manufacturers Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.

New subscribers last week

Armand Van der Merwe, Pietermaritzburg, KZN, SA
Nichol, Buyer, Mr Matata pty ltd, Pongola, SA
Heinrich, Key account manager, HI-TEC Sports, Durbanville, W. Cape, SA
Natasha, Planning Manager, BBF Safety, Pinetown, KZN, SA
Salim Hassen, Sales, Guys and Girls Agencies, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA
Dane Roberts, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA

Got anything you'd like to share?

Do you have any suggestions, comments or experiences about the industry that you'd like to share with the industry? - tony@svmag.co.za

20/03/1982: Ashley Kisten Pillay, Topline Manufacturers, Durban, KZN, SA.
21/03/1970: Shuhui Liu, Chang Tong Trading, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
21/03/1971: Jane Moodley, Michelle Footwear, Durban, KZN, SA.
23/03/1965: Nilesh Naran, Curtolo Shoes, Laudium, Gauteng, SA.
24/03/1947: Chiman Harjeven, Knight's Shoes, Grahamstown, E. Cape, SA.
24/03/1986: Andrew Williams, Little Slipper Co., Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA.
25/03/1963: Richard Mulenga, Zamleather, Lusaka, Zambia.
25/03/1974: Charl du Plessis, left the industry, formerly with KKI, Oudtshoorn, W. Cape, SA.
26/03/1950: Bunny Ramsay, Equalization Footwear, Durban, KZN, SA.
26/03/1961: Peter Meinzer, Thiel’s Shoe Shop, Windhoek, Namibia.

21/03/2019: John Drier, United-Fram, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
24/03/2011: John Lailvaux (b. 16/10/1946), Bouvette (closed), Pedrino (closed), Shoe Boyz (closed), Naked Feet, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
26/03/1994: Manfred Hanni, Hanni Leathers [now Seton AutoLeather], Nigel, Gauteng, SA.
26/03/2002: Marie Joy Viljoen, Tuftex, Pinetown, KZN, SA.
26/03/2011: Paolo Bresolin (b. 25/07/1944), Andreoli Shoes, Pinetown, KZN, SA.
26/03/2016: Viroo Harry (b. 10/01/1960), Mr Man, now part of Knight's Shoes, Grahamstown, 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.

3. Malawian Kwacha (MWK)

Source: https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/

4. Zambian Kwacha (ZMW)

Source: https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/

5. Zimbabwean Dollar (ZWL$)

Source: https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/

Note: For previous rates, see HERE

ABSA Agri Trends: Hides & skins prices

Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA (16 March 2023) - The current average hide price remained unchanged at R4.20/kg from a week ago. The current price is 0.3% higher than the average price a month ago and 38.5% lower than the average price a year ago. The range of prices reported was as follows: Minimum price: R4.00 Maximum price: R5.00. Please note: Our methodology weighs the prices we collect according to the number of hides they sell in a month. This is done to make it more representative of the prevailing market price. NB* Hide prices are determined by the average of the RMAA (Red Meat Abattoir Association) and independent companies. - Marlene Louw, senior agricultural economist, and Nkhensani Mashimbyi, agricultural economist, Absa group.

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:
Jasworth Sports, Bethal, Mpumalanga, SA. Men's outfitter.
Javlin, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA. Industrial workwear.

Classified Adverts

Position required. In management / consulting

I am a qualified production manager. A very active 69.
Extensive experience in the manufacturing of most types of footwear. British passport holder but expired.

Held the position of regional manager of Leather Industries Research Institute, Durban, responsible for:
1 Training of management and operatives.
2 Quality control evaluation and training. Conducted a SAQC for Woolworths.
3 Factory survey and design of layout, and requirements.
4 Selection testing and training.

I am available to relocate anywhere.
I have a code 14 license. Don't smoke or drink.

Robert. A. Leith.
Aleith04@gmail.com
0629328706

Contact us

News & Classifieds: Tony Dickson, +27 (0)31 209 7505, tony@svmag.co.za

Next newsletter: March 27, 2023.

SAFLIA enquiries: Tel 0800SAFLIA * Email info@saflia.co.za * Website http://www.saflia.co.za

Our website www.svmag.co.za