Foreword: Proudly South Africa

Foreword

Despite the ever-rising unemployment figures which continue to dog SA’s economy, the country’s march towards re-industrialisation as a means of creating more jobs continues.

We are working hard to include amongst our members, not only SMMEs who can most benefit from our value proposition, but also larger corporations that represent many jobs. Membership benefits for these labour intensive companies include those which accrue to their enterprise and supplier development beneficiaries, business to business networking opportunities and our work in lobbying at industry association, government and institutional level on issues including tariff adjustments and trade conditions.

In these days of consumer hyper awareness of social causes, from the eradication of single use plastic to other environmental sensitivities, large companies with a social and environmental conscience seeking profit for purpose can benefit from their membership of Proudly SA. The use of our logo demonstrates their good corporate citizenship, playing their role in job creation, the growth of the economy and in responsible environmental practices.

A move away from “working in silos” towards collaboration is something which we promote amongst our members. Inter member trade - buying and supplying to each other - creates great synergies from which many are already benefitting.

Recent visits that we have undertaken to larger manufacturing companies to witness job creation in action, include visits to Lasher Tools, a 90 year old manufacturer of garden and agricultural tools based in Gauteng, employing just under 80 staff. Old school yet innovative, Lasher Tools is a prime example of a company employing entire families over more than one generation.

Bliss Brands started in 2003 manufacturing hand washing powder. Today they also produce powders for automatic washing machines, softeners, bleaches, household cleaners and soaps and employ around 600 staff. Twizza carbonated drinks and Crickley Dairy, based in Queenstown, are also long-established family run businesses which started in the Eastern Cape but which have expanded to employ 1000 employees in three provinces.

New entrants into the SA market is Mara Phones, opened in October by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Dube Tradeport Special Economic Zone in KZN. This is the first locally manufactured smart phone in South Africa, creating jobs for women and youth. In the first year it employed more than 300 employees, increasing to over 1 000 by year five, with many more indirect jobs created as a result of an entirely locally sourced supply chain. When we add just these companies’ employment complement together, we reach around 2 500 individuals, with many more family members supported by these jobs. The ultimate message is that these and every other local company, manufacturing, growing and producing local goods and services deserves to be supported by each and every one of us.

As business owners looking to procure the items required for the running of an operation - to every consumer of white goods, clothing and groceries – we appeal to you to buy local to create much-needed jobs in our country.

Eustace Mashimbye, CEO of Proudly SA

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