S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.9 No.30, July 24 2023

Download PDF

Please note: Click on any ad to go to the advertiser’s website

Export: SA manufacturers ‘have the wrong attitude’

Most would-be South African exporters are uncompetitive. So says an export facilitator who has specialised in taking advantage of AGOA in several African states.
      He works across multiple industries, including fresh produce and clothing, and has been involved in footwear before.
      He said Chinese- and Taiwanese-owned factories in Lesotho, Kenya and Madagascar were far more competitive and productive, “and they should be an example to SA factories”.
      He said SA manufacturers too often had very short-term views, were “out to make a quick buck”, and expected profit margins that were much higher than competitors in the other African states.
      “Generally, the Chinese-owned manufacturers are hungrier for business and creative in overcoming hurdles. Infrastructure problems? Outside the factories in Lesotho, there’s nothing. Inside, it’s like walking into a different world. Power problems? They have generators. Any other problems? They find a way.
“They have willing and productive labour forces operating under strict management disciplines to achieve standards set down.
“SA should be cleaning up with the exchange rate and not always blame the authorities, load shedding, etc. The labour force in SA is apathetic and looking for handouts. The Western Cape Government is trying to resurrect the CMT factories to make for foreign brands, but they’re uncompetitive and they haven’t invested to keep themselves up to date.”
He does highly rate one industry in the Western Cape: yacht building.
      “To be an exporter, you need to hands-on, you need to micro-manage input costs, and you must aim to make the best.”

The Little Leather Shop: Online sales coming

Shelly Beach, KZN, SA – David Boulanger started out making leather sandals, belts and hats from his VW Kombi in Jeffrey’s Bay in the 1970s, and has been in business as The Little Leather Shop since 1980. He and wife, Ivy, are about to launch online retail – prompted by the slow recovery of business post-covid.
      The business includes a workshop, where they continue to make products under their Totem brand, and the retail shop, which sells a broader range, including branded travel goods. The bought-in brands are the bigger side of the business.
“We’re not doing as well as we were,” he said. “Previously, we were sustained by the holiday periods and up-country visitors, but these July holidays, although the roads were busy, business wasn’t. With the cost of toll roads, petrol and accommodation, visitors don’t have a lot left over. It’s quite a serious situation.”
Online is new territory, and “we know it will involve a lot of work”, he said, “but although we’re in our 70s, we’re still going for it”. The website will be www.totemsleather.co.za.
He has developed a thumb brace for himself “because my joints are messed up from all these years of leather work”, and he hopes that, too, will become a popular item.

In case you missed it!

The latest issue of S&V Protect Magazine

CLICK HERE TO VIEW IT ONLINE

S&V PROTECT MAGAZINE VOL17 NO2 SECOND QUARTER 2023

IN THIS ISSUE:

03 OHS in Focus
- First in a new series: Developing a risk-based safety management system programme, by Leighton Bennett, Benrisk Consulting, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.

07 Respiratory Protection
- Handel Street Medical to make 4-ply masks in conjunction with US technology partner Ascend Performance Materials, writes Ashraf Ismail, Durban, KZN, SA.

10 Safety Footwear
- Impact of the new EN ISO 20344-20345-20347 – 2021 version standards for safety and occupational footwear and safety footwear testing.

15 Standards
- Empowering SA’s farmers to export: the role of business process outsourcing providers, by Programmed Process Outsourcing’s Tennille Bell, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.

16 Mental Health
- Mental health in construction, by Professor John Smallwood, Professor of Construction Management, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA.

18 Risk Assessment
- The effect of load shedding on workplace safety, by Louise Woodburn, GM Risk Solutions, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.

19 Competition Tribunal
- Another fine for Covid-19 over-pricing.

20 Drugs
- Cannabis in the workplace – if it’s detectable in the bloodstream, zero-tolerance companies can fire staff, writes Rona Bekker, policy manager of the National Employers’ Association of SA, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.

20 Materials Handling Safety
- Forklift safety is a combination of new technology and better habits, writes Dawn van Dyk, SHEQ manager at CFAO Equipment, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.

21 Innovations
- Royal Academy of Engineering’s 2023 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation is jointly awarded for YUNGA local digital security network and FlexiGyn medical diagnostic device.
- Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft unveils in vitro eye irritation test to replace standard animal testing.
- Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft unveils tool to help prevent fires and explosions when venting natural gas lines.

27 Buyers' Guide
- What's on offer.

They Said It

"I’d rather be stuck in the factory than deal with people." - Keith Lyons, Strayz, Pinetown, KZN, SA.

New subscribers last week

Andrew Mysell, Head of Marketing, Dromex, Durban, South Africa

Directory entries updated last week

Swish and Swank (Pty) Ltd, Springs, Gauteng, SA.
The Little Leather Shop, Shelly Beach, KZN, 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

Birthdays this week

24/07/1982: Thembi Mazibuko-Kahimbaara, Leather Zulu, Randburg, Gauteng, SA.
25/07/1949: Leslie D'Unienville, agent, Durban, KZN, SA.
25/07/1952: Antoine Lailvaux, agent, Durban, KZN, SA.
25/07/1948: GH Moosa, Riley Trading, Pietermaritzburg, KZN, SA.
25/07/1948: Duncan Naidoo, Lugogo, Pietermaritzburg, KZN, SA.
25/07/1974: Morné Gerber, The Little Slipper Company, Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA.
26/07/1958: Mahomed Shaikh, River Queen, Durban, KZN, SA.
26/07/1977: Craig Kisten Pillay, Topline Manufacturers, Durban, KZN, SA.
26/07/1982: Jameel Cassim, Fashion & Shoe Scene, Gauteng, SA.
27/07/1949: Oli Gardella, retired, formerly Gardella Shoes, Pinetown, KZN, SA.
27/07/1959: Vibeke Dugmore, KKI Leather Marketing, Oudtshoorn, W. Cape, SA.
27/07/1958: Morris Marimuthoo, Allimor Footwear, Durban, KZN, SA.
28/07/1950: Charles Stuart White, retired, formerly commission agent, Durban, KZN, SA.
28/07/1970: David Platt, formerly Simitri Specialty Chemicals [closed], Kempton Park, Gauteng, SA.
28/07/1972: Linda Otto, African Leather & Skins, Paarl, W. Cape, SA.
29/07/1962: Graydon Cock, emigrated, formerly Eddels, Bata SA and Puma SA.
29/07/1965: Ashley Pillay, National Bargaining Council, Durban, KZN, SA.
30/07/1959: Alan Munsamy, Nulaw, Durban, KZN, SA.
30/07/1949: Gerald Batt, retired, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
30/07/1973: Frankie Sequeira, Novel’s Outfitters & Shoe Store, De Aar, N. Cape, SA.

In memoriam this week

25/07/2004: Jules Fisher (b. 19/07/1931), Fashionette Footwear [closed], Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
26/07/2019: Cassim Shaikh (b. 30/09/1942), Hopewell Footwear, Durban, KZN, SA.
29/07/1993: JA "Pat" O'Brien, agent, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
29/07/2003: Dennis South, (b. 26/12/1923), Cuthberts [closed], Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
29/07/2010: Eric Harvey (b. 09/02/1925), Barker Footwear [now Bolton Footwear], Cape Town, W. 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 (20 July 2023) - The current average hide price decreased by 0.1% to R3.38/kg from R3.37/kg a week ago. The current price is 0.9% lower than the average price a month ago and 17.8% lower than the average price a year ago. The range of prices reported was as follows: Minimum price: R3.09 Maximum price: R4.50. 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, and Zama Sangweni, 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:
Muhammad Bulbulia, formerly of retailer Joey & Sam, has asked us to highlight the website belonging to a new business, Tranquil Dawn. Joey & Sam has closed.
Karan Beef, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA. Feedlot and abattoir.
Karason’s Footwear, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Footwear manufacturer.

Contact us

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

Next newsletter: July 31, 2023.

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

Our website www.svmag.co.za