S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol. 12 No. 33, August 17 2026

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Compliance

SAPEMA demands action against retailer Curve Gear over selling noncompliant safety footwear

The Southern African Protective Equipment Marketing Association (SAPEMA) has reported retailer Curve Gear to the National Regulator for Compulsory Standards (NRCS) for selling “possibly noncompliant” safety footwear.
     The allegation is because Curve Gear’s safety footwear doesn’t carry mandatory marking: Its NRCS approval number, the manufacturer’s identification, and the national standard designation (SANS 20345). It is illegal in South Africa to sell safety footwear without these markings.
     A safety footwear supplier who has seen the shoes said: “The product is compliant according to ISO 20345 and certified to the Australian footwear standard – it is just that the footwear is not carrying the NRCS mandatory requirements.”
     Curve Gear has allegedly been selling safety footwear illegally for over 2 years through its stores in the Western Cape and Gauteng, and online, where it offers 4 styles of safety footwear and 1 style of foundry boot. Prices range from R1399 to R2499.
     Obtaining an NRCS Letter of Approval (LOA) is a long process; safety footwear suppliers report that it can take up to 12 months, at a cost of around R1500 per style.
     Curve Gear has not responded to multiple requests for comment.
     In its response, the NRCS said: “The NRCS will investigate the reported products and its supplier in terms of the powers vested in accordance with the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications Act, 2008 (Act No. 5 of 2008). If it is found that the reported products are in noncompliance with the Compulsory Specification for personal protective equipment – safety footwear (herein referred to as VC9002:2015) as published by Government Notice No. 1019 (Government Gazette No. 39324) of 23 October 2015, the NRCS will take any actions needed that may be necessary in terms of vested powers in accordance with Act No. 5 of 2008 to prevent the availability of the non-complying products to the consumer.
     “The reporter (SAPEMA) will be notified of the outcome of the investigation in writing within the limits of section 32 of Act No. 5 of 2008.”
     The NRCS did not reply when asked what possible penalties Curve Gear could face.

Wage negotiations

Tanning Sector settles - finally

Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA – The National Bargaining Council of the Leather Industry of SA (NBCLI) on Thursday last week announced that the parties to the Tanning Sector have reached an agreement during the 2026 Annual Wage Negotiations as follows:
     1) Wages, Rates and Remuneration
     1.1 With effect from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027, the prescribed basic wage will increase by 5% for N.U.LA.W members
     1.2 With effect from 1 August to 30 June 2027, the prescribed basic wage will increase by 5% for SACTWU members
     1.3 With effect from 1 July 2027 to 30 June 2028, the prescribed base wage will increase by 5.25%.
     1.4 Any party may request to renegotiate the rate of adjustment to prescribed wages for the second year, should CPI figures as of May 2027 exceed 6% or drop below 3%.

Results

Office UK up, but overall sales down 0.9%

Truworths International Limited: Business update and voluntary trading statement for the 52-week period ended 28 June 2026

Extracts from the full report, which can be seen at https://www.sharedata.co.za/

Cape Town, W. Cape, SA – The Group traded through a challenging year, which was reflected in its retail sales and earnings for the 52-week period ended 28 June 2026. Group retail sales declined by 0.9% to R21.8 billion, in part due to the stronger Rand/Pound exchange rate in the second half of the period. Against this backdrop, the Group's earnings for the period are expected to be within the ranges reflected in the earnings guidance below, supported by a disciplined approach to trading margins, expenses and credit. The Group's position is underpinned by its strong balance sheet and net cash position, portfolio of owned brands in Truworths Africa, Office UK's relationships with leading international footwear brands, well-managed credit book, large account and loyalty customer base, established retail locations across South Africa and the United Kingdom, and growing online presence. The Group continued to invest in the business during the period and remains well positioned to benefit as consumer spending conditions improve.
     Group retail sales for the period decreased by 0.9% to R21.8 billion relative to the R22.0 billion reported for the prior 52-week period ended 29 June 2025 (the 'prior period' or '2025'). Group retail sales performance in South African Rand was impacted negatively in the period by the stronger Rand/Pound exchange rate: Office UK's second half sales were translated at an average of R21.90 to the Pound compared to the average of R23.97 to the Pound applicable to the second half of the prior period.

Retail sales performance by trading period and business segment was as follows:

Account sales comprised 46% (2025: 46%) of Group retail sales for the period, with cash sales decreasing by 1.0% and account sales decreasing by 0.9%, relative to the prior period.

Truworths Africa

Truworths Africa's retail sales for the period decreased by 2.1% relative to the prior period, showing a better performance in the second half of the period. Account sales decreased by 0.9% and comprised 71% of the segment's retail sales (2025: 70%). Cash sales decreased by 5.0%.
     Online sales delivered strong growth of 21.5%, contributing 8.1% to the segment's retail sales (2025: 6.5%).
     Product (retail selling price) deflation averaged 0.4% for the period (2025: 1.2% inflation) and trading space increased by 0.8% (2025: 0.5%).
     Gross trade receivables in respect of the active account portfolio increased by 0.6% to R6.5 billion and the number of active accounts remained in line with the prior period. Active account holders able to purchase decreased to 77% (2025: 79%) and overdue balances to gross trade receivables were unchanged relative to the prior period at 17%.

Office UK

Office UK's retail sales increased by 4.9% (in Sterling) relative to the prior period. In Rand terms, retail sales increased by 1.3% to R7.6 billion (2025: R7.5 billion).
     Online sales contributed 44.7% (2025: 44.9%) of the segment's retail sales in the period.
     Continued investment in Office UK's real estate programme resulted in trading space growth of 17.8% (2025: 6.4%) relative to the prior period-end. On a weighted average basis, trading space increased 8.1% for the period.

The Group's audited financial results for the period are scheduled for release on or about Thursday, 27 August 2026.

In case you missed it!

The August issue of S&V African Leather Magazine

CLICK HERE TO VIEW IT ONLINE

S&V African Leather Magazine Vol20 No8 August 2026

IN THIS ISSUE:

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

05 Upfront
- ‘FMD is here to stay – we have to learn to live with it and manage it,’ says Red Meat Industry Services CEO Dewald Olivier.
- ISTT offers free entry level leather course to encourage training.
- 15 million sheep in the UK – a question over who’s going to shear them, by David Buirski.

09 An Eclectic View
- Obliquity: Shareholder value is usually the result of running a good business, not a reliable operational principle for running one, writes correspondent H. Procter.

11 Leather, Its Image & Its Place In The World
- Beyond the data trap: Why better decisions matter more than just more data, writes the Sustainable Leather Foundation’s Deborah Taylor.

12 Nigeria’s Leather Industry
- Not a clear picture.

14 Other Materials
- Organic cotton at the crossroads: Ideology, evidence, and the road ahead. An article from ICAC.

15 Weights & Measures
- Compiled by the ISTT.

16 Statistics
- Preliminary South African trade statistics for May 2026.



Advertisers in this Issue
Authenticae (02), International School of Tanning Technology (ISTT) (OFC), Rolfes Leather Division (04), S&V Calendar (01), S&V Directory (05), Southern African Footwear & Leather Export Council (SAFLEC) (06), Sustainable Leather Foundation (08).

They Said It

“My father is a pastor, so, by the power invested in me, I pray that you will all become members of SAFLIA and SAFLEC.” - Dimakatso Moji, Director: Leather & Footwear Desk, DTIC, speaking at the SAFLEC AGM in Durban last Thursday. She said she was joking, but I think she’s likely to be a fire and brimstone preacher. Best you have your memberships up to date if you plan on seeking assistance from government.

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

17/08/1959: Berkly Lupton, agent, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
17/08/1972: Alistair Watt, Bresan Footwear, Pietermaritzburg, KZN, SA.
18/08/19??: Robbie Blom, Leisure Holdings, Durban, KZN, SA.
18/08/1958: Mike Wallace, agent, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
18/08/1961: Braam Pretorius, ?, formerly Watson Shoes, Great Brak River, W. Cape, SA.
18/08/1971: Rooksana Moosa, Mozak Shoes, Amanzimtoti, KZN, SA.
19/08/1959: Luis de Freitas, Leather Leisure, Welkom, Free State, SA.
20/08/1965: Craig Brouwer, Albatros Clothing & Promotional Gifts, Germiston, Gauteng, SA.
20/08/1980: Nicholas Bryant, A Greenaways and ProFit Safety Footwear, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
21/08/1949: Brian Pollock, retired, formerly Jordan Shoes (now Bolton Footwear), Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
21/08/1952: Wayne Little, retired, formerly Matas Import, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
21/08/1974: Lisa Rheeder, Acol Chemical, Harare, Zimbabwe.
22/08/1936: Norma Varley, retired, formerly Edcon (closed), Durban, KZN, SA.
22/08/1945: Richard Hirsch, Richardson's Shoes, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
22/08/1954: Jax Snyman, The Sweat Shop, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
23/08/1947: Leon Volschenk, Leo D’ Mar, Great Brak River, W. Cape, SA.
23/08/1949: David Sheppard, D.P. Sheppard & Co, Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA.
23/08/1965: Glyn Giani, the Footwear Design & Technology School of SA, Pretoria, Gauteng, SA.
23/08/1971: Raymond Schutte, agent, Pretoria, Gauteng, SA.

In memoriam this week

17/08/2016: Alan Sykes (b.17/10/1945), Western Tanning (now Mossop Western Tanning) and Corium (closed), Wellington, W. Cape, SA.
17/08/2020: Manilal Jeeva (b. 23/07/1944), P. Jeeva Outfitters, Pretoria, Gauteng, SA.
18/08/2016: Christian Meyer (b. 16/12/1936), Jack & Jill (closed), Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA.
19/08/2002: Dick Ilsley (b.11/12/1921), BUSM (closed), Durban, KZN, SA.
19/08/2019: Ronald 'Ronnie' Harris (b. 4/12/1934), La Nuova Shoes (closed), Pinetown, KZN, SA.
19/08/2025: Eckehard Schumann (b. 13/11/1945), Shoetech Engineering (now Shoet3ch Consumables), Pinetown, KZN, SA.
20/08/2016: Gordon Horsfield (b.), GW Cowie & Co, Durban, KZN, SA.
21/08/????: Edward Jones-Davies (b. 10/06/1925), BUSM (closed), Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA.
21/08/2021: Imraan Kharva (b. 17/01/1973), Americanos, Ladysmith, KZN, SA.
21/09/1993: Bhagwandas Dayaram Ambaram (b. 15/07/1943), JFK Trading, Durban, KZN, SA.
22/08/2006: Bob Butler (b. 01/02/1928), Burton’s Shoes, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
23/08/1950: Andy Thuysman, In Step Leather Craft, Jeffrey's Bay, E. Cape, SA.
23/08/2022: Sakkie van der Vyver (b. 02/03/1945), Adidas, 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.

New subscribers last week

Ayoub Hansa, Smiles, South Africa
Jacob Myathi, Secretary, Zimbabwe Leather Development Council, Zimbabwe

Directory entries updated last week

Osgo (Aztec Investments (Pty) Ltd), Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.

Fairs & events updated last week – see calendar for details

28-30 November 2026: SEA Surf Expo Africa, Cape Town, W. Cape, 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 (13 August 2026) - The average hide price remained unchanged from the previous week at R2.318/kg. The current price is 0.45% lower than the average price a month ago and 4.91% lower than the average price a year ago. The range of prices reported was as follows: Minimum price: R2.25 Maximum price: R2.76. 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. - Jade Smith, 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:

UCL Company (Pty) Ltd, Dalton, KZN, SA. Wattle grower and tanning extract manufacturer.
Ulka Designs, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA. Exotic leather handbag retailer.

THIS WEEK LAST YEAR!

SAFLEC urges government to fight for return to duty-free exports to US

READ IT HERE - S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.11 No.33, August 18 2025

THIS WEEK FIVE YEARS AGO!!

NBCLI 'still determined to fine errant flip flop producers and force them to comply'

Green shoots for Namibia?

Adidas to sell Reebok to Authentic Brands Group

Looting: The aftermath part 5
- DTIC: R3.75 billion to help affected businesses
- Ginger Bhagwandas Exclusive: Thanks to suppliers

Notice Board
- Ben Peters, died on 06 August, aged 86
- Chris Greyling, update on his condition
- The Leather Industry Sick Benefit Fund and the NBCLI Eastern Cape District Committee are relocating
- Tracking down a relative, Charles Cross

Fairs
- ACLE rescheduled to November

READ IT HERE - S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.7 No.33, August 16 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 24 August, 2026. Ad and editorial deadline Friday 21 August 2026.

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

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