S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol. 12 No. 26, June 29 2026

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Protest marches

KZN appears to be more affected

Four manufacturers approached yesterday about whether they planned to close today and/or tomorrow in anticipation of violence during the anti-illegal immigrants protests gave varying answers.
     In Cape Town, Bolton Footwear MD Noel Whitehead the factory would be working. “We don’t have any concerns. There are no intended marches where we’re located.”
     In Port Elizabeth, The Little Slipper Company CEO Jacky Hay said the factory would be working. “We haven’t about anything bad happening here.”
     In Durban, Nasron member Rodney Naidoo said Nasron would be open on Monday, but not on Tuesday, because “it’s too risky in my area”.
     Also in Durban, national agent Matthew Hansen said Angel Footwear and Reunion Components would be working on Monday but would be off on Tuesday.
     However, at Neptun Boot in Pinetown it would be “business as usual”, MD Jon Robb said.

Wage negotiations

Still no settlements in Tanning, Footwear sectors

Durban, KZN, SA – This year’s wage negotiations in the Tanning and Footwear Sectors, which began in April, remain unresolved.
     The National Bargaining Council of the Leather Industry of SA (NBCLI) on Friday declined comment, or to say what the next stages will be.
     The General Goods & Handbags Sector settled on a 5% increase earlier this month.

National Leather and General Goods Strategy Workshop

Union ‘optimistic about future of leather goods sector’

Durban, KZN, SA – Further to the report in Shoes & Views on Friday on the workshop, NULAW general secretary Ashley Benjamin sent this input:

We welcome the convening of the workshop. It’s long overdue to provide support to the General Goods, Handbags & Leather Sector.
     NULAW is optimistic about the future of the sector and acknowledge growth through factories a small increase in employment according to the Leather Industry Bargaining Council statistics. We have noticed new employers showcasing and selling good quality leather goods products on social media platforms amongst others.
     Challenges:
     Illegal imports, Under-invoicing of Leather goods into SA undermining local manufacturing and industrial development and depriving government of revenue.
     Increase in counterfeit goods and illegal leather goods on the streets of major cities such as Bellville Station, Cape Town, Johannesburg CBD, and Durban CBD.
     Selling and promotion of illegal imports on social media & public platforms like marketplace etc.
     Porous borders that enable entry of cheap leather goods and encouraging transshipment.
     Poor support from Government Agencies such as Intra-Agency Workgroup on Footwear & Leather Counterfeit Goods and Intellectual Property Rights enforcements although some successes was announced recently. We require consistent enforcement of laws and regulations to protect local industries and jobs.
     Opportunities/ Interventions:
     Intensify skills development & training through support of the FP&M SETA.
     Build on good work done by agencies like eThekwini Footwear & Leather Cluster (Handbag making and design).
     Increased and promote market access through export promotion (international trade fairs) and work of SAFLEC and DTIC.
     Support for Buy Local campaign of Proudly South African.
     Improve compliance of the collective agreements through enforcement by the Leather Industry Bargaining Council.
     Beneficiation initiatives and collaboration with tanning sector and general goods & handbags sector.

Sportswear

Mizuno: ‘Challenge is to convert strong brand acceptance into running market’

Cape Town, W. Cape, SA – Acceptance of the Mizuno brand under new distributor Digital Wellness, which took over in January, has been “very positive”, brand leader Brian Kerby said on Friday.
     “The brand has always been strongest with independents, and it hasn’t been a hard sell with them,” he said. “Mizuno has grown tremendously in the hockey market and with Digital Wellness's strong hockey portfolio we are expecting even stronger growth. The challenge for us is to convert this strong brand acceptance into the running market.
     “We know our product is as good as all the other major sporting brands, but we just need to convince consumers. The proof here is that we have numerous rugby players (including some Springbok Sevens players) who actually buy their boots from us, which is testament to the quality of the product."
     The brand is now back into some of the key accounts so from a numbers point of view, it’s looking very encouraging. "Our next big goal is to launch a local Mizuno SA website so we can showcase our entire collection."
     “While we’re finding our feet, we haven’t yet gone the route of sponsored athletes, but more product endorsement deals with some key athletes and influencers."

Skills

Durban, KZN, SA – Asheen Soni from shoe and leather goods repair business Gopal’s Est 1901 is looking for cobbler machinist specialist. Contact Email: info@gopalstrading.com Phone: 082 083 3001.

In case you missed it!

The June issue of S&V Footwear & Leather Goods Magazine

CLICK HERE TO VIEW IT ONLINE

S&V Footwear & Leather Goods Magazine Vol. 92 No. 06 June 2026

IN THIS ISSUE:

03 Upfront
- National Leather and General Goods Strategy Workshop: B&M Analysts hosted an online workshop for the leather goods sector to share the findings of their 3-month research project. Their key finding – this is an industry with distinctive material riches, which is unable to convert them into finished goods in a world class way.
- Palm Footwear turns 60

06 Footwear Education
- Richard Kushlick, ‘master footwear fitter, educator and podocalceist’, has had a remarkable career – and he has reinvented himself, again.

18 Business News
- Vermont Leathercraft Manufacturers sale completed.
- Shlobo Designs: Foreign consumers appreciate handwork and the story behind the brand.
- Tshepo denim brand opens new store in Mall of Africa.

20 Noticeboard
- Obituary: Joe McGinley: He ran an empire, but kept a human touch.

21 Comrades Expo
- Photos of exhibitors.

22 Statistics
- Preliminary trade statistics April 2026.



Advertisers in this Issue
Arena Trims (05), East Asian Import & Export (14), eThekwini Leather (03), Freestyle Genuine Handcrafted Leather (02), Haesloop Agencies (14), iSync Solutions (07), Kaytex Belts (23), Leather Finishing Products (10), Palm Footwear Manufacturers (OFC), Paris Belts (09), Saddler Belts (06), SAFLEC (10), S&V Calendar (01), S&V Directory (11), Shotland Packaging (12).

They Said It

“Wow! What an edition of S&V today. Inspiring and educational. Today’s edition should be read by as many of people in the industry as possible.
     “Congratulations to Palm footwear for standing the test of time. Well done to everyone!
     “First was the interesting story about how the various companies interacted. It’s all relevant. The one that stuck was the fact of how skills are lost. There is lots of retired people who would be willing to assist with training, but the company management is not interested in spending time and money on training. I have offered my services. This is the difference between then and now.
     “Then there’s Richard Kushick. Wow, that brought me to tears. So much education went into educating him because he was prepared to be the best by taking in all that was possible.
     “I remember in those days, in the commercial world, people who could not afford to buy their shoes were given the option of a lay buy. When visiting one of the local stores, I was shocked to see that person writing their names on the bottom so that the shopkeepers could not sell it to anyone.
     “Sadly, all that love for the industry has gone and everyone is just interested in ‘what’s in it for me’ attitude. I bought a locally made pair of shoes and could not believe how it looked after just 3 months. Shocking!” - Brian R. Zyster, retired shoemaker, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA, writing about the June edition of Shoes & Views.

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

29/06/1947: Saeed Bux, formerly Elahi Footwear (closed), Durban, KZN, SA.
29/06/1958: Ahmed Saloojee, Status Shoetique, Rustenburg, N.W. Province, SA.
29/06/1972: Jeetesh Harjeven, Knight’s Shoes, Grahamstown, E. Cape, SA.
29/06/1975: Girish Chagan, American Clothing/The Vault, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
29/06/1988: Lynette Munsami, Angel Footwear, Durban, KZN, SA.
30/06/1948: John Ashworth, Little Slipper, Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA.
30/06/1964: Raj Singh, Mr Price, Durban, KZN, SA.
01/07/1963: Tommy Sharma, Bata SA, Durban, KZN, SA.
02/07/1949: Maria Augusta Craveiro, Goosie’s, Ladybrand, Free State, SA.
02/07/1959: Leo Greef, formerly Southern Hemisphere Trading Trust, Uitenhage, E. Cape, SA.
02/07/1967: Yusuf Vadi, Leggenda Sport, Lenasia, Gauteng, SA.
02/07/1971: Rajeev Matai, Equator Belt, Pinetown, KZN, SA.
02/07/1971: Suritha Naicker, Ethekwini Leather, Durban, KZN, SA.
03/07/1971: Steven Coetser, Safety Smart, Pinetown, KZN, SA.
03/07/1949: Pieter Coetzee, Assegaay Bosch Ranch, Van Wyksdorp, W. Cape, SA.
03/07/1976: Michelle van Emmenes, Paris Belts, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
04/07/1952: Eddie Lahee, retired, formerly Shoeperama [closed], Durban, KZN, SA.
04/07/1956: Warren Wareing, Island Style, Durban, KZN, SA.
04/07/1967: Martin MacGregor, Bay Solutions, Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA.
04/07/19xx: Clare Jones, Zip-Code, Umhlanga, KZN, SA.
05/07/1941: Judy Powell, formerly Footwork, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA, retired to Uvongo, KZN, SA.

In memoriam this week

01/06/1992: Harry Gassert, formerly Panther Shoe Co [closed], Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
01/06/2021: Rajeev 'Rocky' Kumar (b. 03/08/1967), Vision Sports, Gaborone, Botswana.
01/07/2016: Matthew Barnard (b. 07/05/1936), Stanhope Boot & Shoe, Pinetown, KZN, SA.
02/07/1997: Clemente Villani, Villani Shoes, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
02/07/2010: Justin McCarthy (b. 29/01/1958), Groundcover, Curry’s Post, KZN, SA.
02/07/2019: Cecil Hansen (b. 08/01/1936), C.L. Hansen Agencies, 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

AV Boutique/Perfek Skoene (AV Boutique cc), Keetmanshoop, Namibia.
Global Sewing Machines Brokers (Pty) Ltd, Durban, KZN, SA.

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 (12 June 2026) - The current average hide price increased by 0.15% to R2.263/kg from R2.260/kg, in the previous week. The current price is 0.15% higher than the average price a month ago and was 8.4% lower than the average price a year ago. The range of prices reported was as follows: Minimum price: R2.00 Maximum price: R2.83. 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:

Jenebella, Somerset West, W. Cape, SA. Footwear retailer.
JFK Trading, Durban, KZN, SA. Footwear importer and wholesaler.

THIS WEEK LAST YEAR!

ITAC probe into increased minimum footwear duties may be close to recommendation

Trading conditions: Cold winter helping sales

In case you missed it!: The June issue of S&V Footwear & Leather Goods Magazine

READ IT HERE - S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.11 No.26, June 30 2025

THIS WEEK FIVE YEARS AGO!!

Here we go again: The Level 4 lockdown

Death Notices
- Rajeev 'Rocky' Kumar, MD of retail mini-chain Vision Sports
- Retired Bolton Footwear agent Mike Peterkin died several weeks ago
- Con Barnard, semi-retired, co-founder of Stanhope Boot & Shoe in Pinetown
- Gordon Singh, retired, founder of Monique Shoes
- Hennie du Plessis, retired, formerly MD of Strassbergers in Clanwilliam

Footwear sector wage increase finalised

READ IT HERE - S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.7 No.26, June 28 2021

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

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

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