S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol. 12 No. 11, March 16 2026

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Corporate challenge adds, um, weight to running shoe market

Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA – The JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge “gives running shoe retailers a wealthy new demographic each year”, The Sweat Shop member Jax Snyman said last week after 14 000 runners took part in the Johannesburg leg on Thursday. “I know we sold a few more pairs to people who aren’t regular customers.”
     The 3.5 mile/5.6 km relay race is held annually in 16 cities across 6 countries with 220 000 participants worldwide, and is followed by “post-race celebrations”. Mostly corporate companies enter 1 or more 4-person teams.
     “My guess is that only about 10% are licenced runners and less than 50% run any other road race annually. About 30% are probably park run participants. So it's a large pool of relatively affluent new consumers drawn from predominantly financial sector companies. The shoes on the feet of the participants look like they were recently purchased and would not be out of place at the start line of a large city marathon.
     “The appetite for a good party is however evident in the size split of T shirts handed out to finishers after the event.
     “At least some of them wouldn’t have had running shoes – or new running shoes – before the event, and because they’re wealthy, they buy the most expensive shoes. The Comrades has more runners, but probably more than half of them have to save up to buy entry level shoes.”

New director tours country to meet members

By Zamani Oliphant, incoming executive director, SAFLIA
Durban, KZN, SA – As part of the transition into my role at SAFLIA, I have been visiting members across the industry to introduce myself and gain a deeper understanding of their operations and the challenges they face. While it may take some time to reach everyone, these visits will continue. Thank you to everyone who has already welcomed me into their factories and workplaces. Your time, hospitality, engaging conversations, willingness to share your knowledge, and openness in showing me your workspaces are greatly appreciated. These interactions are invaluable in helping me better represent and support the industry, and I look forward to continuing these engagements and meeting many more of you in the months ahead.

PPE Conference organisers plan annual event with more end-user attendance

Kempton Park, Gauteng, SA – The Safety First Association and SAPEMA’s inaugural PPE Conference last week “achieved our goals and generated positive feedback,” Safety First Association director Debbie Myer said on Friday. “Its success can be attributed to the high quality of presentations and presenters.”
     Going forward, the organisers plan to make the conference an annual event, she said.
     They aim to attract more end-users – from government and the private sector – noting that the conference offers significant value for those working with PPE daily.
       The event drew interest and attendance from several southern African countries, and the organisers are optimistic that there will be growing regional engagement in the future.
     A report including extracts from many of the presentations will appear in S&V Protect at the end of March.

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 Vol20 No3 March 2026

IN THIS ISSUE:

03 Sam Setter’s ‘Pills’
- A new quip from Sam Setter in each issue.

04 Upfront
- SA Ministry of Agriculture signs cooperation agreement with German Government to combat FMD.
- Chrome-free fish skin leather from Alisam in Kenya.
- Demand for buffalo leather boots in the US overcomes tariff hike.

06 An Eclectic View
- Modern Taxidermy: A valuable cousin of the leather industry, writes correspondent H. Procter.

09 Quality Control
- Quality as a management discipline in exotic leather: Reflections on ostrich and crocodile leather from a tannery perspective, by Cobus Brink and Thabang Kenalemang of Cape Karoo International.

12 Leather, Its Image & Its Place In The World
- The rising important of social audits in the leather industry, writes the Sustainable Leather Foundation’s Deborah Taylor.

14 Weights & Measures
- Compiled by the ISTT.

15 Statistics
- Preliminary South African trade statistics for January 2025.



Advertisers in this Issue
Authenticae (OFC), International School of Tanning Technology (ISTT) (10), Mimosa (02), Rolfes Leather Division (05), S&V Calendar (01), S&V Directory (07), Southern African Footwear & Leather Export Council (SAFLEC) (03), Sustainable Leather Foundation (08).

They Said It

"I feel overwhelmed but well supported.” - Incoming SAFLIA executive director Zamani Oliphant on her first month on the job.

"You turn around, close the door, and take long steps in the opposite direction – that’s my PPE for a lithium fire.” - Wynand Engelbrecht, Fire Ops SA, speaking at the PPE Conference last week. Lithium fires are difficult to extinguish. According to one insurance company Internet site, “while lithium-ion batteries keep our homes, cars, and devices powered, their convenience often masks significant risks. Fire, in particular, is a growing hazard and it is crucial to understand the risks and take steps to mitigate them”. (https://consort.co.za/lithium-ion-batteries-power-convenience-and-risk/)

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

New subscribers last week

Cisca Buys, OHNP, Netcare, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

Birthdays this week

16/03/1952: Douglas B. Bornman, Texstyles Import & Export cc, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
16/03/1961: Doc Motala, Crown Footwear, Pinetown, KZN, SA.
16/03/1965: Rod Bloom, Barksole Shoe & Bag Repairs, Cape Town, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
16/03/1979: Matthew Boltman, Noo Shoes, Pretoria, Gauteng, SA.
16/03/1987: Pankaj Mistry, Superstar Fashions, Vereeniging, Gauteng, SA.
18/03/1948: Stan Rabinowitz, Footwear Direct [closed], Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
18/03/1980: Rory Ramsay, Feetfirst Distribution, Durban, KZN, SA.
19/03/1959: Deon van Rensburg, Wayne Plastics, Krugersdorp, Gauteng, SA.
19/03/1972: Morné Pienaar, Deco Memories, Knysna, W. Cape, SA.
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, Dangee Carken, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.

In memoriam this week

16/03/2008: Tilly Amery, FISA [closed], Durban, KZN, SA.
16/03/2025: Tony Jelinski (b. 19/10/1945), formerly Everflex Manufacturing Co. (Pty) Ltd, Pinetown, KZN, SA.
17/03/1995: Kees Pulles, Futura Footwear [now Bata SA], Loskop, KZN, SA.
18/03/2024: Craig Garvie (b. 28/09/1968), African Boomerang Holdings, Pinetown, KZN, SA.
18/03/2025: Denis Manning (b. 29/03/1955), Lincoln, UK, formerly Kronies Footwear, Pinetown (closed), and Trenzado Footwear, Durban, SA.
19/03/2023: Bob Brown (b. 01/11/1934), Crown Footwear, Pinetown, KZN, SA.
21/03/2019: John Drier, United-Fram, 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.

3. Malawian Kwacha (MWK) (buying)

Source: https://www.rbm.mw/

4. Zambian Kwacha (ZMW) (buying)

Source: https://www.boz.zm/

5. Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG)

Source: Source: https://www.rbz.co.zw/

Note: For previous rates, see HERE

ABSA Agri Trends: Hides & skins prices

Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA (13 March 2026) - The current average hide price decreased by 0.13% to R2.317/kg from R2.320/kg a week ago. The current price is 0.35% higher than the average price a month ago and was 16,5% lower than the average price a year ago. The range of prices reported was as follows: Minimum price: R2.25 Maximum price: R2.74. 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, 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:

J.N. Chamberlain, Boksburg, Gauteng, SA. Rubber sheet and component manufacturer.
Jack Lemkus Sports, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA. Branded sneaker retailer.

THIS WEEK LAST YEAR!

News (all bad this week, sorry)
- AVI closes Green Cross
- P. Bloch & Co. closing
- ‘Chains need to look at smaller factories’
- Safety conference cancellation

Death notices
- Howard Patterson-Roberts, former footwear agent
- Tony Jelinski, former owner of Everflex

In case you missed it!
- The March issue of S&V African Leather Magazine

READ IT HERE - S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.11 No.11, March 17 2025

THIS WEEK FIVE YEARS AGO!!

Business
- South Africa
-- Big & Tall: Still some 'mad days', but quantities down
-- Cattell's: 'It's all about service'

Competition Tribunal
- PPE supplier accused of overcharging donates 49 400 face masks

Fairs and conventions
-- SLTC Convention cancelled again
-- SACU leather, leather products Zoom event on Friday

Stock Exchange News Service (SENS)
- AVI: Interim results December 2020

READ IT HERE - S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.7 No.11, March 15 2021

NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE

All the past S&V Weekly Newsletters from January 2016 onwards are available in the newsletter archive.
VIEW THE ARCHIVE - CLICK HERE

Contact us

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

Next newsletter: Monday 23 March, 2026. Ad and editorial deadline Friday 20 March.

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

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