SAFLEC Newsletter April 2021

Last week The DTIC organized the following footwear factory visits for Deputy Minister HON. MS NOMALUNGELO GINA in KwaZulu-Natal to demonstrate The DTIC multiple policy levers to support industry and to get further industry commitments, said Dr Jaywant Irkhede, Director of footwear and Leather DTIC.

Dr Irkhede reported:
a) Protea Leather, Tongaat:
The DTIC policy levers:

Production Incentive support
PPPFA Designation of CTFL products for 100% localization for Govt. Procurement / consumption, NSFAS "Laptop Bags" 100% localized

b) Planet Event, Jacobs:
The DTIC policy levers:

Black Industrialist Support (BIS) to footwear component industry growth
Developing and implementing policies for improved value chain growth & competitiveness

c) Neptune Boot, Pinetown:
The DTIC policy lever:

Production Incentive support with significant impact on "Export Orientation" within AfCFTA & Overseas and "Growth in Production & Employment" in the "Non-retail Industrial Footwear Value Chain"
Further commitment on growth and export orientation within AfCFTA and Global opportunities

d) BATA Loskop:
The DTIC policy lever:

Production Incentive support. BATA puts the South African footwear industry on the "global competitiveness map" with BATA as "Brand Country of Origin" with 95% local content (Rules of Origin) successfully employing 2000 people (90% women) under the BATA brand at the Rural Loskop area (500 jobs) and with 5 exclusive Associated Business Units (ABU's 1540 jobs)
Further commitments by BATA to export SA fashion footwear within AfCFTA through its African distribution network

SAFLEC has been working with Senior Experten Services (SES) for the past three years. The intent is to bring our manufacturers world-class expertise to improve various areas within your company.

SES is Germany’s leading volunteering organization for experts and executives who are either retired or taking some time off work. The SES program is offered to SMME’s, municipalities, local governments entities, NPO’s, NGO’s, TVETS and just about anyone looking to learn and develop and sharpen their skills.

Our professional technical expert is willing to transfer his/her competencies and knowledge to you free of charge.

SES has more than 12 000 registered experts covering more than 50 sectors of the economy.

In the LEATHER INDUSTRY we have a total of 30 professionals that are skilled in these sub-sectors:

Leather processing, intersectoral
Leather & shoe processing machines
Tanning
Processing (dressing)
Leather goods
Shoes
Furs

Here’s a typical example of one of our senior expert’s competencies and experience that would be able to provide you with hands-on, on-site help:

Comprehensive skills in design, manufacture and model making of leather shoes and of leather wear (design, sewing, cutting, and finishing of belts, bags)
Experienced in vocational training of shoe making and leather processing.
Production and quality management
Business organisation, as well as restructuring of your company
Purchases and sales
Marketing and sale of shoes and machine spare parts
Trade of products and export
Shoe collections for trade fairs
Commercial management and business administration
Company management
Planning of new production plants
Personnel training and management training
Provide support in time management and resolving bonding problems
Quality management
Modernization
Work-Flow optimization

Costs of hosting a professional expert for a minimum of 3 weeks:

Full board and lodge + 3 meals + laundry.
Airport pickup and drop off
Daily travel from accommodation to place of work
Gratuity fee of R4 000.00 (for a period of 3 weeks). Paid directly to the expert.

For more information on this skills transfer program please contact:

Yvonne Iyer
SES-SA Representative
Phone: +27 (0) 83 779 0385
E: y.iyer@rep.ses-bonn.de
E: yvonne@ses.africa
Webpage: www.ses.africa

In April, SAFLEC embarked on Export Training Part 2, a course that covered the processes of export from the perspective of the logistics, for manufacturers to better understand and plan their production and admin to fit into the logistics flow to destination.

One of the reasons social media marketing is so effective is the fact that digital consumers spend 2.5+ hours on social platforms daily. 97% of marketers are using social media. SAFLEC has been aggressively engaged in social media marketing to increase the awareness internationally of the Made in South Africa. Trending, following and hashtags - the new way we share, learn, interact and market SA manufacturers and their capability. We are proud to announce over 3000 hits to our social media site. Help us to grow the following for your benefit.