S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.9 No.44, October 30 2023
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Trading conditions
Midland Tannery closes
Sasolburg, Free State, SA - Midland Tannery, the tanning division of the vertical agribusiness Midland Group, has closed entirely, director Rudie Nieuwoudt said last week.
“Full business closure, wet blue and finished leather,” he wrote.
He did not give reasons, and he did not say what the group planned to do with the hides from its feedlots.
A source said the plant had been mothballed, suggesting Midland has not discounted reopening at a later stage.
Bresan ‘not in business rescue’
Alistair Watt, member, Bresan Footwear
Howick, KZN, SA - Despite to the rumours doing the rounds, Bresan Footwear is not in business rescue, but like a lot of businesses in the manufacturing sector, we have been affected by the current state of the South African economy.
Post lockdown, the business climate has changed and while we regained our production levels to pre covid levels in 2021, we lost considerable ground in 2022. This was further compounded by our factory move during December 2022 along with the load shedding plague of 2023.
While the greater part of 2023 has been a struggle, we have finally settled down from our move, but the massive drop in production volume has taken its toll. We were hoping for a better second half of the year, but our order book is way down on previous years.
The current situation has highlighted a number of areas of concern and weakness within our business model, and we are working to rebuild and improve on how we do things. To this end we are looking closely at what we offer and will be making considerable changes to ensure sustainable employment for our staff going forward.
We intend to continue servicing BBF with CMT uppers for as long as they need us while we completely restructure our footwear offering on the fashion side. The economic struggle is real, but we are still in the game and have some exciting plans for 2024.
In case you missed it!
The latest issue of S&V Protect Magazine
S&V PROTECT MAGAZINE VOL17 NO3 THIRD QUARTER 2023
IN THIS ISSUE:
03 Upfront
- Copying: BBF and Rebel accuse Dromex of copying, which it denies – but that’s the way the industry operates, says distributor.
- 4Tify Africa resurrection bid – ‘talks with liquidators ongoing’.
09 OHS in Focus
- The second in a new series: Are you a compliance or competent health and safety practitioner, asks Leighton Bennett, Benrisk Consulting, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA, because people’s lives depend on it.
10 Sanitation
- The harsh reality of South Africa’s ongoing sewage crisis and its undeniable link to drinking water quality, writes Gerhart Britz of Sanitech, Durban, KZN, SA.
12 Countering counterfeit
- German manufacturer Bosch has developed Origify, a system which can capture the minute differences in every product coming off a production line to allow counterfeit products to be detected – including in medical and pharmaceutical products and medicines.
13 Drugs & Alcohol
- Addressing the growing threat of substance abuse in mining operations. - Clarifying the role of breathalyser results in employee dismissals: Dispelling misconceptions to ensure workplace safety. Both articles by Rhys Evans, Alco-Safe, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
21 Innovations
- Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft: Dynamic risk management – on the road with safe and reliable autonomous vehicles.
- Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft: Terahertz measurement system for slush skins used in airbag construction.
27 Buyers' Guide
- What's on offer.
Advertisers in this Issue
Evolution Engineering (01), Hi-Tec Interceptor (OFC), Palm Footwear/Terrapod (06), Rebel SafetyGear (02), S&V Calendar (10), S&V Directory (09), SAFLEC (11), Selective International Footwear Kaliber (04).
They Said It
"Saturday night RWC final checklist: ECG heart jumper cables…cardiologist’s number on speed dial…Oxygen mask…Valium…Smelling salts…" - WhatsApp message doing the rounds. The Proteas game against Pakistan was more of the same. Would that our businesses were able to trade as robustly as our sports teams play.
New subscribers last week
Liza Kruger, Bookkeepr, Leather Industry, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Brendon Kegel, Manager, AST Safetywear, Pinetown, South Africa
Jody, Leather Craftsman, The Handmade Leather Studio, KZN, South Africa
Devlin, Operations Manager, Safeway Safety and Industrial Supplies, KZN, South Africa
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
30/10/1939: Peter Boudewijns, retired, formerly Badger Footwear [closed], Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA.
30/10/1985: Léan Boezaart, Freedom of Movement, Pretoria, Gauteng, SA.
31/10/????: Ofer Ardenbaum, formerly Tiago Trading [closed], Durban, KZN, SA.
31/10/1961: Deidre Harte, retired, formerly LTE, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
01/11/1940: Innes Rhind, retired, formerly Crispin Industries [closed], Gaborone, Botswana.
01/11/1942: Laurence Smith, PMC Components, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
01/11/1957: Anthony le Roux, Agussi Crafts, Franschhoek, W. Cape, SA.
02/11/1934: Hawa Shaikh, formerly Amshu Distributors, closed, Greytown, KZN, SA.
02/11/1936: Alastair Gardner, retired, formerly Panther Shoes [closed], Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
02/11/1962: Jan Morgan, Morgan Hides, Pretoria, Gauteng, SA.
03/11/1976: Voden Wearne, Oden, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
03/11/1979: Orian Mendes, Shuler Enterprises, Harare, Zimbabwe.
04/11/1947: Greg Sadie, Desch SA, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
04/11/1960: Greg Bing, A.P. Jones, Fish Hoek, W. Cape, SA.
04/11/1962: Philip A. Carstens, Carstens’ Orthotic Laboratories, Durbanville, W. Cape, SA.
05/11/1988: Jacques van As, Le Croc, Brits, N.W. Province, SA.
In memoriam this week
30/10/2001: David Cairns (BASF SA).
01/11/2018: Bobby Moodley (b. 29/01/1949), Chronicle Footwear, Durban, KZN, SA.
03/11/2007: Ahmed ‘Bull’ Patel, hand stitching CMT operator, Greytown, KZN, SA.
03/11/2010: Grahame Steele (b. 17/04/1929), Budget Footwear [closed], Durban, KZN, SA.
04/11/1998: Roy Schefermann, Futura Footwear, Pinetown, KZN, SA.
05/11/1998: Bob Gould, SB Agencies [closed], Pinetown, KZN, SA.
05/11/2013: Brian de Bruin (b. 26/09/1941), DB Components [closed], Durban, KZN, SA.
05/11/2016: Byron Ludlow (b. 29/03/1951), Michelle Footwear, Durban, KZN, 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.
Directory entries updated last week
AST Safetywear cc, Pinetown, KZN, SA.
Trade fairs updated last week
Fashion World Tokyo, 17-19 April 2024, Japan.
Fashion World Tokyo, 15-17 October 2024, Japan.
Classified Adverts
Exchange rates
Note: For previous rates, see HERE
1. SA Rand (ZAR)/Lesotho Loti (LSL)/Namibian Dollar (NAD)/Swazi Lilangeni (SZL)
Source: http://www.x-rates.com/calculator/
| |
Euro € |
GBP £ |
US $ |
CNY ¥ |
| 06/10/2023 |
R20.41 |
R23.60 |
R19.29 |
R2.68 |
| 14/10/2023 |
R19.96 |
R23.02 |
R18.99 |
R2.59 |
| 21/10/2023 |
R20.12 |
R23.10 |
R18.99 |
R2.62 |
| 28/10/2023 |
R19.91 |
R18.84 |
R18.84 |
R2.58 |
2. Botswana Pula (BWP)
Source: https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/
| |
Euro € |
GBP £ |
US $ |
CNY ¥ |
| 06/10/2023 |
14.67 |
16.99 |
13.88 |
1.93 |
| 14/10/2023 |
14.44 |
16.64 |
13.73 |
1.88 |
| 21/10/2023 |
14.54 |
16.69 |
13.73 |
1.87 |
| 28/10/2023 |
14.48 |
16.63 |
13.71 |
1.87 |
3. Malawian Kwacha (MWK)
Source: https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/
| |
Euro € |
GBP £ |
US $ |
CNY ¥ |
| 06/10/2023 |
1225.24 |
1416.30 |
1157.48 |
160.73 |
| 14/10/2023 |
1215.39 |
1401.47 |
1155.94 |
159.64 |
| 21/10/2023 |
1219.33 |
1399.88 |
1151.05 |
157.47 |
| 28/10/2023 |
1209.57 |
1387.86 |
1144.74 |
156.70 |
4. Zambian Kwacha (ZMW)
Source: https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/
| |
Euro € |
GBP £ |
US $ |
CNY ¥ |
| 06/10/2023 |
22.63 |
26.16 |
21.38 |
2.96 |
| 14/10/2023 |
22.49 |
25.93 |
21.39 |
2.95 |
| 21/10/2023 |
22.99 |
26.40 |
21.71 |
2.97 |
| 28/10/2023 |
23.28 |
26.71 |
22.03 |
3.01 |
5. Zimbabwean Dollar (ZWL$)
Source: https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/
| |
Euro € |
GBP £ |
CNY ¥ |
Official US$ |
| 06/10/2023 |
383.08 |
442.84 |
50.30 |
|
| 14/10/2023 |
380.50 |
438.76 |
49.82 |
5634.99 |
| 21/10/2023 |
383.36 |
440.13 |
49.50 |
5670.61 |
| 28/10/2023 |
382.39 |
438.75 |
49.54 |
5696.37 |
Note: For previous rates, see HERE
ABSA Agri Trends: Hides & skins prices
Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA (26 October 2023) - The average hide price decreased by 4.3% to R3.23/kg from R3.37/kg in the previous week. The current price is 3.4% lower than the average price a month ago and 30% lower than the average price a year ago. The range of prices reported was as follows: Minimum price: R2.75 Maximum price: R3.50. 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:
Kloppers, Bloemfontein, Free State, SA. Department store.
KM Stores, Pretoria, Gauteng, SA. Family footwear retailer.
Contact us
News & Classifieds: Tony Dickson, +27 (0)31 209 7505, tony@svmag.co.za
Next newsletter: November 6, 2023.
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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