Made In SA - June 2021

JUNE 2021

businessmediamags.co.za sahomeowner.co.za

Going green through best practice and innovation

PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN

From campaign to mass movement

Plus WHY BUYING LOCAL BOOSTS THE ECONOMY I ICONIC BRANDS MISA2021_CoverFinal_2.indd 1

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JUNE 2021

businessmediamags.co.za sahomeowner.co.za

Going green through best practice and innovation

PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN

From campaign to mass movement

cover image Courtesy of Kansai Plascon

Plus WHY BUYING LOCAL BOOSTS THE ECONOMY I ICONIC BRANDS

Contents MISA2021_CoverFinal_2.indd 1

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7 TAKING ‘PROUDLY SA’ FROM 24​ SA WINES Africa’s well-established wine CAMPAIGN TO MASS MOVEMENT South farms and its emerging winemakers

President Cyril Ramaphosa on why we need to keep pushing the message “keep it local”

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Local is lekker

Buying local boosts the economy and stimulates job creation

16​ ENTREPRENEURS

Local entrepreneurs share how they have grown their small businesses during these extremely tough times

18​ SA FASHION

With local designers hitting the international fashion scene, we look at what it takes for them to become global players

23 ​SA ARTS AND CRAFT

The country’s dynamic, thriving visual art, craft and design sector is a significant contributor to the GDP

are making waves on the world stage

26 ​Pads with purpose​

A local start-up is producing eco-friendly, reusable sanitary pads

29 ​New retail concept hatched

Egg is a new venture that combines retail with e-commerce and favours small businesses, local entrepreneurs and consumers

30 ​South Africa’s Kreepy innovation

We take a closer look at Kreepy Krauly’s history, design, development and rise to global prominence

32​ INVENTIONS AND INNOVTAIONS

From iconic shoes to groundbreaking medical achievements, South Africa can boast several inventions and innovations that have gone global

37​ ENVIRONMENT

Three groups of young South Africans were among the top-placed teams in a recent global hackathon aimed at finding solutions for a more sustainable and healthy approach to living

38​ SUSTAINABILITY

Certain local paint and fuel companies are working hard to change the devastating effects of man-made chemicals on the environment

41​ Famous brands and products

What brands and products do locals crave when they leave home and what do tourists try first?

42 ​ Uniquely South African ​

We feature 10 of the country’s most unique ‘firsts’ that give us good reason to boast

44​ Barking up the right tree

From specially designed beds to clothing and nutritious food, the pet product industry is booming

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SO MUCH TO BE PROUD OF

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outh Africans can, at times, be a gloomy lot, but we perk up immediately when there is a suggestion that something from our country is rated among the best in the world. The reality is that we have much to be proud of.

Our country not only has several unique firsts, but can also hold its head high in a diverse range of categories. From the products that we love to share with foreigners to the brands that have been exported to the world, we can proudly say that South Africa has achieved a true global reach.

We take a look at sectors as varied as our wine industry and the local pet care market, and also those manufacturers who are working hard to save the planet, including one local hero who has designed high-quality, reusable and eco-friendly sanitary pads.

A unique retail concept in Cape Town caters to a new generation of consumer, while local students have stepped up to the plate, developing solutions for a more sustainable and healthy approach to living. Many of our standout start-ups – including those in the visual art, craft and design

sector – are impacting the economy both through local sales and the export market.

This dovetails nicely with what President Cyril Ramaphosa stated at the recent Proudly SA Summit and Expo, that “keeping it local” is key to our country’s ultimate economic recovery.

Therefore, in light of all the amazing people, products and places highlighted in this issue, all that is left to say is: “Keep it local!”

Rodney Weidemann, Editor

SALES Project Manager: Gavin Payne gavinp@picasso.co.za +27 21 469 2477 I +27 74 031 9774 Sales: David Johnson, Brian McKelvie

PRODUCTION Published by:

Production Editor: Shamiela Brenner Ad Co-ordinator: Johan Labuschagne Subscriptions and Distribution: Fatima Dramat, fatimd@picasso.co.za Printing: Novus Print

PIcasso Headline, a proud division of Arena Holdings, Hill on Empire, 16 Empire Road (cnr Hillside Road), Parktown, Johannesburg, 2193 PO Box 12500, Mill Street, Cape Town, 8010

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EDITORIAL Editor: Rodney Weidemann Content Manager: Raina Julies rainaj@picasso.co.za Contributors: Trevor Crighton, Delia du Toit, Dale Hes, Nia Magoulianiti-McGregor, Denise Mhlanga, Puseletso Mompei, Thando Pato, Jared Rutenberg, Lisa Witepski Copy Editor: Brenda Bryden Content Co-ordinator: Vanessa Payne Digital Editor: Stacey Visser vissers@businessmediamags.co.za

DESIGN Head of Design: Jayne Macé-Ferguson Senior Designer: Mfundo Archie Ndzo Advert Designer: Bulelwa Sotashe Cover Image: Courtesy of Kansai Plascon

MANAGEMENT Management Accountant: Deidre Musha

Business Manager: Lodewyk van der Walt

General Manager Magazines: Jocelyne Bayer

COPYRIGHT: Picasso Headline.

No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent of the publisher. The publisher is not responsible for unsolicited material. Made in SA is published

by Picasso Headline. The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of Picasso Headline. All advertisements/ advertorials and promotions have been paid for and therefore do not carry any endorsement by the publisher.

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PROUDLY S OU T H A F RICA N

KEEP IT LOCAL President Cyril Ramaphosa wants to take Proudly South African from campaign to mass movement as herein lies one of the key factors to the nation’s ultimate economic recovery. By RODNEY WEIDEMANN

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elivering the keynote address at the Proudly South African Summit and Expo 2021, President Cyril Ramaphosa pointed out that in celebrating 20 years of Proudly South African, we must not only recall what it has achieved, but also remember why it remains important.

“Companies with long histories and deep footprints in the domestic market have been badly affected by the pandemic. This has worsened the effects of several years of difficult economic conditions, preferences for cheaper, imported goods and – in some cases – changing consumer patterns. Many companies have had President to downscale, and others have been Cyril Ramaphosa forced to close. Given the global economic climate, we can anticipate decreased demand for our goods, products and services, even from our traditional export markets,” Ramaphosa said.

“It is not enough to simply preach the ‘buy local’ message – we also need to practise in support of existing manufacturers, we will it. We need to demonstrate that buying local be enforcing measures to stop the illegal is about investing in quality, sustaining local importation of goods, which weakens our businesses, and keeping jobs at home.” local market.”

Ramaphosa explained that it is vital to step He pointed out that he already spoke in his up efforts not just to get SA consumers to State of the Nation Address about increasing buy local, but also to improve the entry of SA local production and reducing dependence goods, products and services into export on imported goods; bringing more SMEs markets. This is one way to help save existing into the formal economy by introducing small jobs and stimulate the economy, enabling business local procurement thresholds for further job creation. the public sector; and working to identify localisation champions, who will help drive import replacement programmes across LOCAL PRODUCTION NEEDS TO INCREASE various industries and for specific projects.

“From our side, there is an express “Another element of our Recovery Plan undertaking to increase local procurement – the infrastructure build programme – has over the next five years. Apart from its own massive potential for job creation and local procurement commitments, government business development. If local procurement will also work to lower the barriers to entry, is to be at the scale and impact we envisage, thereby making it easier to establish and we have to deepen our collaboration. grow a business in South Africa. Furthermore,

“It is not enough to simply preach the ‘buy local’ message – we also need to practise it.” – PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA

“We have designated 27 sectors for local procurement by the public sector. Proudly South African is playing an important role in monitoring compliance with these designations. The sectoral master plans – aimed at ensuring the respective value chains are localised for the benefit of the economy and job creation – that have been concluded are paying off.”

These master plans relate to the automotive industry, clothing, textiles, footwear and leather sector, the poultry market, and the sugar industry. Other master plans in their final stages are for the furniture and plastics industries.

“We ask every South African citizen to make a conscious decision to buy local goods. Wear local, travel local, eat local, watch local content, read local authors, support local music, and use local raw materials in your businesses. Proudly South African must move beyond being a campaign; it must become a mass movement that all our people are keen to embrace and actively support.

“Whether public or private, we need to appreciate that choosing to procure locally, through and across value chains, is a solid investment in our country’s recovery. It will grow our economy, create jobs, broaden markets and create numerous opportunities for business expansion,” the president concluded.

KEY AIMS OF THE SECTORAL MASTER PLANS • Automotive: to double job opportunities by increasing the level of local content in vehicles from 39 to 60 per cent.

• Poultry: to contribute to the production of more than a million additional chickens each week for local retailers.

• Sugar: soft drink manufacturers to procure 80 per cent of their sugar needs from local growers, including small-scale farmers.

• Clothing, textile, footwear and leather: pledged half a billion rand to the expansion of local manufacturing sites.

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L OCA L IS L EK K ER

BUYING LOCAL STIMULATES

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hen South African consumers buy local products, they create demand. Meeting that growing demand opens up job opportunities. Since its establishment 20 years ago, Proudly South African has been an advocate of the buy local movement in the country.

“Every local company that produces items for sale in South Africa needs customers who are economically active and able to buy from them,” says Eustace Mashimbye, Proudly South African CEO. Mashimbye suggests that we need South Africans to have more faith in their products, and to trust that locally made goods and services represent value for money and are high-quality.

“SA has talent, local supply chains are efficient, have a lower carbon footprint, and are more reliable with faster delivery times than waiting for consignments from overseas. Due to

Eustace Mashimbye

ntrepreneur Lufuno Netshithuthuni of Funo Designs creates unique and innovative modern traditional “takkies” for women who love cultural fashion.

“There is a growing need from middle-class women in both rural and urban areas for traditional fashion. Funo Designs advances our African fashion identity and promotes and celebrates colours and prints that represent diverse SA cultures,” she says.

However, Netshithuthuni says that for entrepreneurs to succeed, South Africans must embrace local products more, and businesses must always strive to offer value-for-money products.

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COVID-19, imported supplies are unpredictable as country borders open and close based on infection rates.

“Buying locally mitigates these risks (and that of fluctuating exchange rates), money stays in South Africa, we sustain jobs and create new ones, all while growing the economy,” he says.

Larry Hodes, a business coach and facilitator, opened the Gourmet Grocer store in Johannesburg in 2020 to create an outlet for local products. Locals who started their businesses or side hustles as a result of the pandemic, produce most of the supplies.

“Any business that supports small local businesses contributes towards sustaining the economy,” says Hodes.

“SA HAS TALENT, LOCAL SUPPLY CHAINS ARE EFFICIENT, HAVE A LOWER CARBON FOOTPRINT, AND ARE MORE RELIABLE WITH FASTER DELIVERY TIMES THAN WAITING FOR CONSIGNMENTS FROM OVERSEAS.” – EUSTACE MASHIMBYE, PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN

EMBRACE LOCAL

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Buying local may well be the answer not only to various COVID-19 challenges, but also to stimulating job creation and economic growth, writes DENISE MHLANGA

This year marks Proudly South African’s 20th anniversary. The organisation will roll out numerous new activations, in addition to the annual Buy Local Summit & Expo, to drive the buy local message to a wide audience.

Eustace Mashimbye, Proudly South African CEO, says Proudly South African has ongoing conversations with various government bodies to assist them in understanding and adhering to local procurement legislation.

“We also speak to businesses on how to leverage local procurement.

Additionally, our strong social media presence enables us to speak directly, and in real-time, to consumers.”

In 2020, Proudly South African shot a new television commercial with renowned actor, director and playwright Dr John Kani, entitled ‘Game Time Mzansi’. It was flighted across all television channels, reaching millions of viewers.

“With the tagline: ‘Our everyday purchasing decisions shape our future’, we wanted to encourage consumers to buy local products, enable job creation and sustain the jobs that we have,” adds Mashimbye.

“Consumers look for quality, not quantity, and people are willing to spend more for locally produced quality,” she says.

Proudly South African’s Eustace Mashimbye says when businesses commit to local procurement through their entire supply and value chain, they boost the manufacturing sector.

Most entrepreneurs and small businesses find it difficult to access finance and markets to sell their products. “If retailers were to give more shelf space to local products, we would stimulate the creation of more small businesses.”

Business coach and facilitator Larry Hodes adds that small businesses need to develop skills like financial management, branding, and sales and marketing to assist them to sell their products.

“SA has talent, so what we need is an outlet to showcase this creativity and for more businesses to buy from them,” he concludes.

Lufuno Netshithuthuni

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ECONOMIC GROWTH

PROMOTING ‘LOCAL IS LEKKER’ INITIATIVES

L OCA L IS L EK K ER

PROMOTING LOCAL TALENT TO

a viable option to earn a living will be key going forward.”

To this end, Haralambous launched the Slow Fund to help entrepreneurs, side-hustlers and business owners realise their potential to build valuable enterprises slowly, patiently and consistently.

Haralambous says that through the fund, More effort must be made to leverage the wealth of available local applicants with a good business idea receive talent to create employment and boost the economy, suggests R1 000 cash plus a coaching session on how to run a business.

DENISE MHLANGA “When unemployment is this high, there is no money flowing through the between the government and private broad economic system. Promoting local he recognition and promotion of local sector are needed to stimulate job creation. talent through side-hustles results in more talent ultimately leads to the creation At YES, our business-led collaboration sustainable businesses, thus leading to a of employment opportunities in various seeks innovative ways to curb more robust economy.” industries. In a country abundant with youth unemployment.”

Raiz says different industries talent and resources, packaging the Emery says businesses that and sectors that prioritise products borne out of this to be consumed by employ young people through co-ordination and collaboration existing and potential new markets is what is YES can gain one or two levels to increase effectiveness will needed to stimulate employment. on their Broad-based Black benefit the most from working This is according to Allon Raiz, founder Economic Empowerment together. To be sustainable, and CEO of Raizcorp, who says: “We need to (B-bBEE) scorecard – a lever businesses need to become much better at for competitiveness that create new products productising our assets. can be used by big or small all the time and work This skill needs to be Leanne Emery companies. This in turn aids in with stakeholders taught in every industry job growth. to cluster their and every art form.”

YES uses an implementation partner products into a more In the current model to give businesses with limited or no effective industry. economy, successful capacity to host youth in their organisations an “Entrepreneurs who can industries need to affordable and reliable way to make an impact see the opportunities keep reinventing and in critical sectors. These include healthcare, and create the requisite evolving with changes in Allon Raiz early childhood development, conservation, products to match will technology, tastes and small, medium and micro enterprise development emerge as winners,” buying patterns, he says. education, and digital, among others. concludes Raiz.

Employing the youth in local businesses Author, entrepreneur and speaker Nic is another way to promote local talent while Haralambous says job opportunities will arise providing young people with real-life job skills, when we have more businesses that are says Leanne Emery, Youth Employment Service growing. “Promoting entrepreneurship as (YES) chief marketing officer. “Interventions

CREATE EMPLOYMENT

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“PROMOTING ENTREPRENEURSHIP AS A VIABLE OPTION TO EARN A LIVING WILL BE KEY GOING FORWARD.” – NIC HARALAMBOUS, AUTHOR, ENTREPRENEUR AND SPEAKER MADE IN SA

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CHOOSE LOCAL,

BOOST THE ECONOMY From continuity of supply to job creation and economic stimulation, the reasons for buying local are many and varied, reports DENISE MHLANGA

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“CONSUMERS HAVE THE POWER TO STIMULATE THE ECONOMY, HELP CREATE AND RETAIN VALUABLE JOBS, SUPPORT FAMILIES AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY AND CULTURE.” – TSHEPO MOHLALA, TSHEPO JEANS 10

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FAST FACT

South Africa’s manufacturing output fell 2.1 per cent year-on-year in February 2021, according to Statistics South Africa.

Mohlala applauds South Africans for choosing local over imported products, pointing out that buying local is a movement that comes from the people to the people.

“If widespread local manufacturing can displace imported production, more people will be employed, thereby increasing the number of VAT and income taxpayers,” says Gilmour.

He believes the government should embark on a wide range of buying local campaigns in association with Brand SA, to undertake aspects like promoting local production.

“Businesses need to invest money in new technology and factories to be able to compete with China. Here, the government can also offer tax incentives for companies to set up factories to produce local goods,” he concludes.

IMAGES: ISTOCKPHOTO.COM, SUPPLIED

or many countries, including South Africa, continuity of supply is the main reason for wanting to increase local production. Local manufacturing creates jobs, and there are also savings in foreign exchange to be had by buying local, says independent investment analyst Chris Gilmour.

“While the cost of manufacturing goods Tshepo Mohlala in SA is high compared to China, supply continuity is far more important than price so customers may have to get used to paying a stimulate the economy, help create and retain bit more for locally produced items.” valuable jobs, support families and strengthen Gilmour says that for years China has community and culture.” been the main provider of clothing and other The brand, which launched in 2015, products, but the prices of these goods have opened its first flagship store in Hyde Park been rising and the quality of the supplies has Johannesburg in December not been as good as previously.

2020. Mohlala says that, as “Pre-pandemic, many an entrepreneur, his product clothing retailers were looking tells a unique story, while to diversify their supply chains using the highest quality away from China to an extent, materials sourced locally to and the pandemic worsened promote other businesses the situation.” and partnerships as a way to Long before global encourage buying local. He lockdowns, China had begun explains that the pandemic shutting down its factories Chris Gilmour has seen many local in Wuhan and elsewhere in businesses closing or an attempt to deal with the battling to survive. outbreak of the coronavirus, thus resulting in “A financial commitment by the government major global supply shortages, notes Gilmour. to support local businesses and a recognition Tshepo Mohlala, creative director and founder of the value these businesses have in of Tshepo Jeans, says that, due to COVID-19, stimulating and growing the economy is what supporting local businesses has become even we need,” he says. more crucial. “Consumers have the power to

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A DV ER T ORI A L

Going green through Best Practice and Innovation Plascon is a leading paint and coatings manufacturer rooted in South Africa. It has been creating well-known and loved sub-brands for over 130 years

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trong innovation and a focus on creating brand love and loyalty over its more than 130 years in operation has seen Plascon successfully establish itself as a leader in the manufacturing of the highest quality products.

This quality is achieved through robust strategic planning, systems, processes and controls. Plascon prides itself on ensuring that only product of the highest quality is sold to its valued customers and consumers across the continent and continuously strives to be a leader in the markets it operates in. To achieve this, the company is always looking at ways to improve product quality and efficiently increase production to meet the growing demand.

Plascon is constantly adapting to the changing macroeconomic landscape by innovating or restructuring the business.

Today, the company operates through an extensive network of facilities across Southern, East and West Africa, with more than a dozen manufacturing plants and over 3,000 dedicated employees producing paints and coatings, which are distributed to over 20 countries on the African continent and Indian Ocean islands.

From project work and home decoration to the preservation of infrastructure and painting of vehicles, Plascon’s superior paint ranges have become a mainstay in homes, showrooms, roads and cityscapes all over the region.

The company’s constant drive for innovation and quality has contributed to building the enormous trust in the brand that has developed over time.

Robotic arms installed on the filling lines to increase efficiency

Plascon’s rich history includes the introduction of many new coatings solutions to the market. It has built a reputation of trust and reliability, which defines the brand as experts in paint coatings.

PRODUCTION EXCELLENCE A notable leap in the continued pursuit of excellence is the introduction of market-leading technologies in both the manufacturing equipment and the product technologies used to craft these beloved brands.

Plascon has introduced in-line dispersion equipment and robotics to its filling line to increase production throughput and efficiency and ensure customer satisfaction. Coatings production requires special dispersion equipment that can mix the solid and liquid particles required in the formulation of the final products. The purpose of dispersion is to increase the surface area of the particles to improve the durability, colour strength and coverage of the final coating, thereby giving customers consistent quality.

Increased efforts are being made to reduce environmental impact by minimising Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in both water-based and solvent-based coatings production. Such efforts are also concentrated on increasing efficiency, versatility and colour accuracy for a final product that carries the renowned distinction of the Plascon brand name. This challenge has introduced many new variables in the raw materials required, the special purpose additives, and the techniques and equipment involved.

PLASCON PRIDES ITSELF ON ENSURING THAT ONLY PRODUCT OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY IS SOLD TO ITS VALUED CUSTOMERS AND CONSUMERS ACROSS THE CONTINENT AND CONTINUOUSLY STRIVES TO BE A LEADER IN THE MARKETS IT OPERATES IN. 12

New in-line dispersion mixers ensure highest product quality and reduced waste

Water-based products are particularly susceptible to foaming, and the commonly used high-speed dispersers are known to create these issues. In the past, this has necessitated the need for defoaming agents, which are inefficient and also affect accuracy as some of them can also hinder other properties of the final product, necessitating additional additives.

Due to normal variation in raw materials, virtually any dispersed product may occasionally fail to meet specifications. By using in-line dispersion equipment, Plascon has guaranteed that only the best quality is delivered to its loyal customers. In-line dispersers can reduce problems caused by settling during transfer – this is a common issue during transfer to and from bulk storage.

An in-line disperser eliminates this issue by redispersing the raw material en route to the dispersion tank or the storage tank, producing an end product with superior colour development and consistency.

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Given the excessive life expectancy of plastic products, almost every piece of plastic created and sent to a landfill or dumped in the environment is still in existence.

For a market leader such as Plascon, looking for ways to increase capacity and ensure the best possible quality for the end-user, this has been an extremely efficient answer. Plascon has brought coating production into the 21st century, thanks to its adoption of new in-line dispersion technology, which not only processes paint three times faster than conventional methods, but also consumes less energy and generates less waste.

This new state-of-the-art system was introduced to Plascon’s plant in Johannesburg and has become the new benchmark in paint manufacturing. The in-line disperser has also changed the way Plascon formulates paint.

By harnessing the technology, Plascon can now produce better quality paint faster and at a lower cost. Furthermore, the company has enhanced productivity by incorporating robotics into its new filling lines – machines that will fill paint faster and at double the capacity of the previous manual process, meaning it can fulfil customers’ orders in less time.

Moving with the times and remaining relevant has been central to Plascon’s building of a longstanding reputation, reflected in the environmental initiatives in product innovation.

GREEN PRODUCT INNOVATION

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The first of these innovations is the introduction of APEO-free (Alkyl Phenol Ethoxylates) formulations. Plascon TradePro Roof & More

TradePro Roof & More sun and rain protection

is a roof paint that is entirely free of harmful APEO chemicals.

APEO compounds, when released into the environment, can be toxic to human and wildlife, especially marine life. Conventional roof paints contain APEOs that, over time, leach into waterways through rain and drainage, eventually contaminating the soil, water tables, rivers and, ultimately, our oceans. APEOs that accumulate in water systems are toxic to aquatic organisms. In large doses, APEOs can also affect hormonal systems in humans.

By choosing to use APEO-free products, consumers are contributing to a safer, healthier and more sustainable planet.

Water, although a reusable resource, needs to be treated responsibly and conserved to avoid pollution and shortages. South Africa is among some of the most water-scarce countries in the world. One way to use water more responsibly – and save money on monthly municipal bills – is to harvest rainwater from roofs. Since Plascon TradePro Roof & More is APEO-free, it is safe for the harvesting of rainwater for nonpotable use.

Another threat to environmental conservation is the plastic pandemic. The mass production of plastics began over 50 years ago. Since then, eight billion tons of plastic have

been produced. An estimated 90 per cent of that is not recycled, with approximately eight million tons ending up in oceans annually.

Given the excessive life expectancy of plastic products, almost every piece of plastic created and sent to a landfill or dumped in the environment is still in existence. This puts an immense strain on the environment and its inhabitants, increasing the urgency to reduce plastic consumption and wastes, as well as to find sustainable ways to recycle existing plastic products. To honour this call, Plascon has introduced black buckets made of up to 70 per cent upcycled material to its premium range.

Upcycling is a means by which we can reduce the amount of solid waste entering landfills and polluting the environment. The materials of old paint buckets are harvested to produce new ones of equal quality with a lower manufacturing impact. Through this process, carbon emissions are reduced by extending the shelf life of used materials, thereby reducing the energy and natural resources needed for the manufacture of new materials. By upcycling, we not only stop more long-wearing pollutants going to landfills, but also reduce environmental footprint by saving the cost of manufacturing, packaging and transporting new materials.

These upcycled buckets provide the same structural integrity with new distinction to the Plascon premium range, including Plascon Micatex, Double Velvet Pure, Cashmere, Velvaglo Water-Based, Nuroof Cool and Wall & All, bringing consumers the renowned and trusted quality of these brands with the peace of mind knowing that they’re making the most responsible choice for the environment.

Much of environmental conservation and ethical practice involves correcting ingrained perceptions and innovating so that the same quality can be provided while reducing environmental impact. Solvent-based paints used to be the preferred choice in coatings, favoured for their perceived durability, especially in enamel paints. But these solvents can be more demanding in terms of application, cleaning, disposal and, most importantly, harmful to the environment.

There has been a global shift toward water-based products, which offer equal, if not better, quality with added benefits including faster drying times, lower associated costs and minimal impact to the environment and the health and wellbeing of consumers. ›

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Plascon Velvaglo Water-Based Enamel is just one of the extensive water-based range of products offered by Plascon. Leading the field in water-based alternatives, Plascon Velvaglo is prized for its superior strength, satin finish and versatility. Formulated with a unique water-based acrylic hybrid called AquatoughTM Plascon Velvaglo Water-Based offers all the toughness of a solvent-based enamel including UV, flaking and stain resistance, with nondrip properties while remaining environmentally friendly and nontoxic.

Also of particular concern with solvent-based products is the associated risk of VOC emission, which has become a major societal concern with VOC pollution on the rise. VOCs are chemicals emitted from production processes and common household items. These chemicals accumulate in the air and can have short- and long-term adverse health effects.

Concentrations of many VOCs are consistently higher indoors (up to 10 times higher) than outdoors. To combat this threat, Plascon has optimised the formulations of its premium brands, which now all boast zero VOC recipes. This means that when using these products there are no VOC emissions, thereby protecting the environment as well as your home and family.

But Plascon didn’t stop there. Not only has it removed VOCs from its premium products, but it has also further engineered them to remove VOCs from the air too.

A noteworthy VOC, known as formaldehyde, also presents a growing cause for concern. Emitted from common household items, such as upholstery, carpeting and household cleaning agents, formaldehyde has the potential to pollute the air and compromise our health.

Double Velvet Pure - removes harmful air pollutants

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In 2020, Plascon pioneered paint with air purifying technology. Plascon Double Velvet Pure has the ability to actively improve the quality of indoor air by removing formaldehyde from the air that consumers breathe, making their home and workspace a safer environment for them, their co-workers and their families. A special compound in the formula removes and permanently transforms the formaldehyde in the air into undetectable, harmless water vapour that is safe to breathe.

The reengineered product retains all of its premium quality, strength and elegance as well as its existing leading technologies such

as the Stain BarrierTM to make cleaning away life’s messier moments a breeze, Silver ProtectTM to inhibit mould and bacterial growth and BreatheasyTM to minimise odour and ensure cleaner, breathable air.

PRODUCT TECHNOLOGY Over the years, Plascon has launched leading technologies, providing premium quality products that bring elegance, style and peace of mind to consumers.

Plascon Cashmere features Triple Action BeadTM technology, a special additive in the paint that is responsible for the dispersion of light.

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Velvaglo Non-Drip - steam, chip and stain resistant

This technology ensures a plush matt finish, which is capable of hiding plaster imperfections in the wall while bringing warm colours to life and forming a protective barrier that maintains an absolute matt finish over time, even with regular wiping.

Plascon Cashmere, Plascon Double Velvet Pure and Plascon Kitchens and Bathrooms, are all formulated with Silver ProtectTM, silver additives to help keep walls cleaner for longer, improve stain resistance and reduce mould and algae formation.

Plascon Nuroof Cool has a unique EnviroshieldTM formulation with UV protection and infrared-reflective technology. The formulation minimises the effect of the sun’s

OVER THE YEARS, PLASCON HAS LAUNCHED LEADING TECHNOLOGIES, PROVIDING PREMIUM QUALITY PRODUCTS TO BRING ELEGANCE, STYLE AND PEACE OF MIND TO ITS CONSUMERS. heat on your roof, resulting in cooler roof surfaces. Lower roof temperatures mean less stress and strain on the coating and the roof – promoting longer roof life and keeping your roof beautiful for years. It also cools the interior of your home by up to 8°C during summer (in winter, the impact of the cooling effect is minimised). By reducing the need for cooling, consumers will save on both costs and power

while also reducing emissions of greenhouse gases due to lower power requirements.

The Plascon premium range also utilises BreatheasyTM technology so that consumers can paint and experience virtually no odour.

This means that the short-term adverse effects of eye, nose and throat irritation and headaches that often result from breathing in paint vapours are drastically minimised. With no lead and zero VOCs, consumers are not only protecting the health of their families, but also the environment.

In keeping with its commitment to innovation, Plascon has also launched major upgrades to another of its beloved and renowned brands: Plascon Micatex, now with Polycell Technology.

Plascon Micatex with WeathertoughTM is a well-loved, finely textured, exterior matt paint for long-lasting, extra protection against the toughest weather conditions and the wear and tear of everyday living. Now with PolycellTM Polyfilla Fine Crack. The filler, which covers hairline cracks and prevents water from entering the cracks thereby causing damp problems, premature colour fading or cracking and peeling of the paint. With twice the film thickness compared to conventional paints, Plascon Micatex also boasts mica for stretch and marble for strength.

Plascon continues to innovate with a focus on developing pioneering products while being conscious of its environmental impact.

These changes affirm Plascon’s reorientation and refreshed commitment to focus on people and purpose.

For more information: www.plascon.com

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BLOOMING BUSINESSES How do you grow a small business in tough times? Five entrepreneurs share their stories with DELIA DU TOIT

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hen it comes to business, the news has been full of doom and gloom in recent years.

An economic slump pre-dated the pandemic, which desiccated the South African business landscape. Yet a few standout start-ups have managed to rise above and build resilient enterprises in tough times. It just goes to show that a smart idea and an agile mindset can overcome even the most difficult circumstances.

TWINKLE BERRY

A smocked dress from Twinkle Berry.

Though she’s been creating smocked children’s clothing since 1992, Soraya Samaai’s business has gained several fans and followers in the past year. Her bespoke outfits are so well-loved that they’ve become family heirlooms.

“Some of the children who wore my smocked outfits years ago have since become mommies themselves, and I am now making clothing for their children. I only use very high-quality cotton – I even have the very first dress I made, for my daughter’s first birthday, and it’s still in perfect condition. Most of my dresses are custom-made for children to celebrate important milestones like christenings, birthdays or weddings. These garments hold memories for the children as they grow.”

“I TEACH SMALL GROUPS OF PEOPLE HOW TO SMOCK AND HAVE LECTURED ABOUT SMOCKING AT FASHION AND DESIGN SCHOOLS. IT’S IMPORTANT TO EDUCATE THE NEXT GENERATION ABOUT THE CRAFT TO ENSURE IT STAYS ALIVE.” – SORAYA SAMAAI, TWINKLE BERRY

Soraya Samaai

Samaai also makes off-the-rack garments for sale at Stitch ‘n Stuff in Claremont, Cape Town, and has started sharing her love for the craft with others. “I teach small groups of people how to smock and have lectured about smocking at fashion and design schools. It’s important to educate the next generation about the craft to ensure it stays alive.”

She’s also learned that nothing beats customer relationships in building a resilient business. “Understanding customers’ needs and wants is vital. You must build a relationship with your clients so that they always come back.”

Instagram: @Twinkle_Berry_SA

studio that uses timber from demolition yards or building sites under renovation.

One of her most popular products yet is the My Africa Lap Desk, which she started making during lockdown when more people worked from home. “I was inundated with people requesting the product.

It’s portable, foldable and a great solution for students and people working from home or in small spaces.”

In March this year, she took home the South African Women Lizl Naude Entrepreneurs Climate Change Award (SAWECCA) honouring “the most innovative climate-smart women-owned enterprises in South Africa”.

www.lillyloompa.com Lilly Loompa’s My Africa Lap Desk.

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Though Lilly Loompa started as a jewellery business, Lizl Naude’s successful venture is now known far and wide for its quirky, upcycled decor items.

And it all started after a misfortune.

“I was working as a corporate PA and events co-ordinator when I fell down some stairs and nearly broke my back in 2004.

I started making jewellery while in bed for eight weeks, and it gave me so much pleasure that I decided to quit my job to pursue the business,” she remembers.

After later completing an interior decorating course, she switched to making upcycled decor items from waste and officially launched Lilly Loompa Upcycled Homeware in September 2016.

She’s since employed an assistant and outsources some production to a local, environmentally conscious manufacturing

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LILLY LOOMPA

FAST FACT

There has been a surge in new businesses registered during the pandemic, according to data by First National Bank. Registrations on BizPortal, the online business registration portal of the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC), jumped from 700 a month to 2 800 per month between April and August 2020.

Mishaan Ratan of Rentoza

RENTOZA Rentoza has turned the idea of ownership on its head, allowing users to “rent” electronics and appliances through a monthly subscription. The business has been running for three years, with consistent growth, says Mishaan Ratan, CMO. “We have seen between 25 and 30 per cent month-on-month growth, and our staff contingent has grown from four to twenty-four employees.

We are humbled and inspired by it.”

When many families’ purse strings were cut during lockdown, Rentoza became a perfect alternative. “It’s all about timing really, and our time is now,” he adds.

Like many successful business ideas, Rentoza was an attempt to solve a real issue

that friends Ratan, Aviraag Ramdhani and Avinesh Reddy faced in their daily lives.

“We were trying to think of a better way to access the latest products we needed, when we needed them, without the large cash outlay,” says Ratan.

From there, they tried different models until they found a way that worked, he says.

“We tested these models and failed in some respects, but focused and expanded on our successes. We wanted to change the way people see ownership – moving from ownership to access. We are giving South Africans a completely new way to access products at affordable rates and on flexible terms.” www.rentoza.co.za

OCO LIFE As a little girl, Annabel BiggarDavid’s grandmother would mix home remedies for any sickness. “It always worked and my love for alternative medicine started there. I started making remedies for friends and family as an adult and later decided to turn it into a business, after researching the global market.”

To launch the business in 2017, Biggar-David sold almost everything she had and tapped out her access bond. “When money ran out, I would barter furniture for services. For two years, I lived in a tiny room and converted the rest of the house into a laboratory and factory.”

The risk paid off. Today, Oco Life is a multiple-award-winning brand and its range of organic essential oil blends, ultrasonic aroma diffusers, air purifiers, and traditional medicine is sold through several retailers and its online platform. “We are now

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EN T REPRENEURS

ten permanent and six casual team members, with our own premises, which we’ve already almost outgrown, and we’re market leaders in our field.”

Persistence, she says, is key.

“Persistence will take you places, more so than talent, genius or even education. Be fearless with what sets your soul on fire, but keep testing every aspect of your business and then challenge every one of those assumptions. The tougher you are on yourself when starting, the stronger your business will be in the real world.”

www.ocolife.co.za

“PERSISTENCE WILL TAKE YOU PLACES, MORE SO THAN TALENT, GENIUS OR EVEN EDUCATION. BE FEARLESS WITH WHAT SETS YOUR SOUL ON FIRE, BUT KEEP TESTING EVERY ASPECT OF YOUR BUSINESS AND THEN CHALLENGE EVERY ONE OF THOSE ASSUMPTIONS.” – ANNABEL BIGGAR-DAVID, OCO LIFE

Atyre clutch bags

ATYRE Rea Ngwane, inspired by the strong female entrepreneurs in her family, always wanted to start her own business. “While studying BCom Marketing, my previous business partner and I started creating schoolbags from upcycled plastic bags, with an attached solar lantern, to empower underprivileged youths.”

Realising the potential and impact of the waste industry, Ngwane left her first venture and started Kreamfields in 2016 with her sister Katlego. “Kreamfields specialises in the transformation of waste, specifically discarded tyre material. We create PPE mine bags and supplies for above-surface and underground workers, unique corporate gift bags, and trendy handbags sold under the brand name Atyre.”

They’ve seen steady year-on-year growth of 17 per cent and had 10 team members by 2020 – though they’ve since had to streamline due to the pandemic.

All the bags are made by local community members, while raw materials are collected by local waste pickers.

“We’re so proud that we’ve been able to contribute towards a more sustainable means of production, changing the perception of upcycled products in retail.

And, within our community, discarded waste has become a means to generate income in households. Most importantly, we have created employment within the community,” says Ngwane.

www.atyre.co

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FIERCELY LOYAL

LOCAL FASHION

South African designers are carving out names for themselves on the international fashion scene. THANDO PATO speaks to some of them to find out what it takes to be a global player

MAXHOSA: LUXURY LOCAL KNITS

Maxhosa’s range of knitwear features bright prints.

Laduma Ngxokolo, founder of local fashion brand Maxhosa, believes his brand’s main competitors are luxury fashion brands like Louis Vuitton and Gucci. “From a pricing position, we are not far off from them, and in the retail space, our stores are adjacent to theirs,” he explains.

Ngxokolo says that Maxhosa customers are not price-sensitive and can readily afford his range of knitwear for men and women. The brand’s main customer base is South African and most of the sales come from its stores in the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, The Mall of Africa in Midrand, and from its studio in Johannesburg.

Even online sales are mostly local, but the brand does have an international footprint. Besides featuring in the latest reiteration of Coming 2 America starring Eddie Murphy, they have been featured in international titles like Vogue, The Hollywood Reporter and Variety.

“WE ARE PROUD TO BE A SOUTH AFRICAN BRAND. WE CAN BOAST THAT NEARLY 90 PER CENT OF OUR CLOTHES ARE MADE IN SOUTH AFRICA, AS WE NOT ONLY HAVE A FACTORY IN PORT ELIZABETH, BUT WE ALSO SOURCE OUR RAW MATERIALS LOCALLY.” – LADUMA NGXOKOLO, MAXHOSA

Laduma Ngxokolo

Ngxokolo says Maxhosa is available on some international online stores and has featured instore at Bloomingdales in New York and San Francisco. “The long-term goal is to open our own retail spaces overseas rather than work through a merchant. But that is long-term, we are still focused on growing our market share here in South Africa. Though we are doing well, I believe there is still an untapped market in places like Durban, Mpumalanga and the North West that we must harness.”

The brand has grown locally in popularity, thanks to its signature designs and prints, which he says are rooted in Xhosa heritage, but are also a celebration of other African cultures.

“We are proud to be a South African brand.

We can boast that nearly 90 per cent of our clothes are made in South Africa, as we not only have a factory in Port Elizabeth, but we also source our raw materials locally.”

MANTSHO: OFFERING EXCLUSIVITY AND UNIQUENESS

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Johannesburg-based brand Mantsho and founder Palesa Mokubung made international headlines in 2019 when Mantsho became the first African brand to collaborate with Swedish retail giant H&M. The capsule collection was sold in 61 stores in 11 countries. Mokubung describes Mantsho as “a global brand that is based in South Africa with a solid international and local following”.

Like Maxhosa, Mantsho recently had a selection of designs featured in the movie, Coming 2 America, which also stars local actress Nomzamo Mbatha. Mokubung says that the brand is uniquely South African because she is “consciously making sure that my pride is evident in the Mantsho prints and textiles, which all tell a story of my culture and heritage.”

Available online and instore at her studio at Victoria Yards in Johannesburg, at the Africa Stores at Sandton City and Menlyn in Pretoria, Mokubung says that most of her sales are currently happening online due to the pandemic, which has also made customers more price-sensitive. “However, our clientele values quality, exclusivity and luxury and they’re more than willing to pay for it.”

Mokubung says that the competition among local fashion brands is not stiff because the industry is so small. “There is enough space for all of us. We compete as colleagues, but not as rivals,” she explains.

Palesa Mokubung

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S A FA SHION

AFRICA YOUR TIME IS NOW: MAKING A STATEMENT TO the WORLD The Africa Your Time is Now brand is the brainchild of Papama Mtwisha, the founder and owner. “Our brand was conceptualised, founded and is manufactured in South Africa.

Manufacturing in South Africa was very deliberate on our part. Even though it would be cheaper to produce in the East, it made more sense for us to keep the currency circulating here on the continent and keep people employed.

“Our mandate was very clear from the outset, namely, that we want to inspire in every single way – from the message we are spreading to creating employment by working with local manufacturers.”

Papama Mtwisha

“MANUFACTURING IN SOUTH AFRICA WAS VERY DELIBERATE ON OUR PART. EVEN THOUGH IT WOULD BE CHEAPER TO PRODUCE IN THE EAST, IT MADE MORE SENSE FOR US TO KEEP THE CURRENCY CIRCULATING HERE ON THE CONTINENT AND KEEP PEOPLE EMPLOYED.” – PAPAMA MTWISHA, AFRICA YOUR TIME IS NOW

FAST FACT

Some of SA’s most sustainable design houses create clothing and accessories from recycled plastic and fishing nets. Others achieve sustainability with locally sourced bamboo, soy, cashmere and corn from rural communities, and imports of organic cotton from Lesotho, or make use of sustainable fibres like hemp and organic cotton.

Source: www.ecopak.co.za

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SA DESIGNERS ARE MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS TO THE LOCAL GDP South African designers contributed at least R1-billion to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) during 2019. This is according to the study, Assessing the Economic Value of the Designer Fashion Sector in South Africa, released last year before the pandemic. The study was a collaboration between the Department of Trade and Industry and Competition and the South African Cotton Cluster (SACC).

The research also revealed that the sector can aggressively target the growing upper-middle class, who are more inclined towards buying “slow fashion”, rather than the fast fashion dominating the mass retail

The T-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts and other fashion items bearing the slogan have become popular and a mainstay in the fashion world, with most of the label’s sales happening online.

“As a brand that launched online, our online sales are consistently strong.

This is attributed to the fact that we timeously deliver orders and if there is a challenge, we communicate. Most of our clients love the convenience of having their parcels delivered to their door,” Mtwisha explains.

She says that although the brand’s clientele is mostly local, it does have an international footprint. “We are currently available in Europe, the United States, Australia and some major cities throughout Africa.”

market. Slow fashion is a growing trend in international markets, where consumers are taking a more conscious approach to fashion and favouring small-scale and responsibly produced products.

The South African designer clothing sector is in the position to adopt and cater to this trend says the report. “The sector has the ability to service the increasingly stringent requirements of the market when it comes to sustainability and ethicality throughout the brands’ value chains. There are ample opportunities when it comes to positioning the designer apparel sector as a pioneer and custodian of sustainability,” the report states.

LOCAL DESIGNERS BAG THE LVMH PRIZE One of the most coveted awards in the fashion world for up-and-coming designers is the luxury conglomerate Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy’s (LVMH) Prize for Young Fashion Designers. In 2019, Kimberley born designer Thebe Magugu’s self-titled women’s label beat over 1 700 international entries, winning R5.2-million along with a one-year mentorship programme provided by a dedicated LVMH team.

In 2020, Cape Town-based fashion and textile designer Sindiso Khumalo was shortlisted for the award. However, due to COVID-19, no winner was announced, instead the prize money was split among the nine finalists.

This year, Lukhanyo Mdingi, a local womenswear and menswear designer based in Cape Town, is a finalist. The winner will be announced in September at a gala event in Paris. The competition now also includes an opportunity for the finalists to participate in a capsule collection for 24S, the LVMH-owned retailer. For the first time since its introduction in 2013, members of the public helped judges select the nine finalists.

Source: vogue.com, TimesLive and LVMHPrize.com

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A DV ER T ORI A L

TAKING LOCAL TO THE NEXT LEVEL In recent years, there has been a resurrection of the “buy local” sentiment. Shoppers realise that every Rand spent on a local business builds the economy as that money recirculates in the community

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hile supporting the “buy local” initiative, consumers still want world-class products, and we know that South African craftspeople, given the support and opportunity, can produce export-quality goods.

Equator – the Belt FactoryTM, a design house and manufacturer based in Durban, South Africa, provides such an example.

The manufacturer produces quality belts for its South African retail and brand partners, including Markham, Woolworths, Polo, Mr Price, Levi’s and Cape Union Mart.

Centred around the people that make its belts, Equator puts a kind face to the name of fashion manufacturing in South Africa. When it comes to belts, Equator makes it possible for people to localise their accessory purchases.

But what about how the factory itself is pushing to localise?

As part of a greater sustainability journey, Equator has a three-point strategy posed as questions: Where is the belt made? What is the belt made from? How is it packaged and distributed?

Having focused on the first question and being the first manufacturer in the CTFL (clothing, textiles, footwear, leather) industry to achieve a Five Star Green Star Certification for green building, Equator is now focusing on the “what”.

While the “what” also focuses on the type of materials that belts are made from, a big focus lies on addressing where these raw materials originate and are produced. Increasingly, Equator is attempting to ensure that the materials within its supply chain are sourced from closer to home.

In the past two years, by working closely with both leather and buckle suppliers in South Africa, Equator has managed to significantly reduce its material imports and increase locally produced materials in its supply chain.

“Sometimes localising one’s supply chain means seeking out opportunities by engaging with potential partners,” says managing director Leon Buhr, who founded the company 20 years ago. “If you take our belt buckles as an example, we decided to engage with a factory that wasn’t making belt buckles, but was already working with metals to make other products. We put our

heads together and found a way to procure the necessary equipment and use that factory’s skills to craft our belt buckles right here in South Africa.”

Equator believes that the “what” is also about engaging with retailers to increase demand for products that are not only produced locally, but are also made from locally produced materials. The factory has approached some of its biggest customers with local leather and buckle alternatives to bring them on board. “At the end of the day, as we localise our supply chain, we need the buy-in from our retail partners. If they are happy with the quality of these locally produced materials that make up our belts, we know we have a win-win situation,” Buhr explains.

Ultimately, the importance of localising the supply chain comes down to more than the benefit to South Africa’s economy and community. With an accelerating environmental and climate crisis, businesses are under pressure to reduce the carbon emissions associated with their business operations. Localising across the supply chain as much as possible is a very successful way to contribute to a solution.

South Africans have known for some time that local is indeed lekker, however, it turns out that there are ways to dial up the “lekker-ness” even further – for companies and manufacturers to not just produce locally, but also source their raw materials as locally as possible.

For more information:

031 702 1469 8 Pine Industrial Park, 16 Pineside Road, New Germany, 3610, KZN, South Africa www.equator.group www.thebeltshop.co.za

“SOMETIMES LOCALISING ONE’S SUPPLY CHAIN MEANS SEEKING OUT OPPORTUNITIES

BY ENGAGING WITH POTENTIAL PARTNERS.” – LEON BUHR MADE IN SA

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S A A R T A ND CR A F T S

BOOMTIME FOR

ARTS AND CRAFTS SECTOR THE NGWENYA GLASS VILLAGE

Glassblowing at Ngwenya Glass Village.

South Africa’s dynamic visual art, craft and design sector is thriving and making a significant contribution to the gross domestic product.

THANDO PATO finds out more

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outh Africa has a diverse and dynamic arts and crafts heritage, which is also a thriving industry that contributes to the economy. The South African Cultural Observatory (SACO), a national project of the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, established in 2015 to conduct economic research on the cultural and creative industries (CCI), which includes visual art and crafts, reports that CCIs contribute R74.4-billion to the South African gross domestic product (GDP).

A SACO study, The Economic Mapping of the Cultural and Creative Industries in South Africa 2020, shows that if indirect and multiplier effects are included, the cultural economy actually contributes R241.8-billion to the GDP. The Craft Design Institute (CDI) says that the arts and crafts economy in South Africa is booming and straddles the formal and informal business sector.

Erica Elk “The visual art, craft and design sector is made up of a wide variety of individuals and businesses who work in different ways. Some practice informally as hobbyists, and some as high-end creative practitioners, selling as they make what are mostly one-off pieces,” says Erica Elk, group CEO of the CDI. “Others run formal businesses – one could think of them as small-scale manufacturers – that produce batches of the same products, but where the creative content and input is

quite high, for example, candles, ceramics and homeware. Such businesses can employ five to a hundred people and sell their products both nationally and overseas.”

The Ngwenya Glass Village on the West Rand of Johannesburg is a treasure trove of local arts and crafts made of glass. Founder and owner Buzz Prettejohn says that the village was established in 1995 and then built up slowly over the years. Ngwenya employs 15 staff across its businesses, which have – unsurprisingly – been badly affected by the pandemic. The village is a wonderful example of a culturally focused visual arts and crafts business.

THE EXPORT MARKET Elk says that there is a local market for products with cultural relevance, which people use as part of their cultural practices.

“This has the potential to grow as more people get in touch with and appreciate their cultural roots. There is also an international market, but this is also quite niche. Products with cultural representation will generally only ‘speak to’ people who have an interest or identify with it.

“The greatest potential for growth in this sector is in functional products for the home and fashion. These may draw on indigenous cultural artefacts for expression and aesthetics, just as they will draw on other local influences, nature and iconographies. This is part of the creative process that feeds the development of new products.”

According to SACO’s report, South Africa’s culture goods exports grew at 14.6 per cent per year between 2015 and 2018, making up 0.47 per cent of the country’s total commodities export in 2018. Mboneni Mulaudzi, marketing and communications manager for CDI says: “The largest positive trade balance for 2018 was in the visual arts and crafts domain, which also

“THE VISUAL ART, CRAFT AND DESIGN SECTOR IS MADE UP OF A WIDE VARIETY OF INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES WHO WORK IN DIFFERENT WAYS. SOME PRACTICE INFORMALLY AS HOBBYISTS, AND SOME AS HIGH-END CREATIVE PRACTITIONERS, SELLING AS THEY MAKE WHAT ARE MOSTLY ONE-OFF PIECES.” – ERICA ELK, CDI

Glass giraffes from Ngwenya Glass Village.

had the fastest growth in the value of cultural goods exports in recent times.”

The CDI, a nonprofit agency that works to develop businesses in the arts and crafts sector, currently has 6 299 members and continues to grow, says Elk. “Members include individual creative practitioners; established exporting businesses; students and hobbyists who are learning and developing their skills and techniques; individuals who work ‘informally’ making and selling into their local communities; and exceptionally talented individuals whose artistic and creative outputs have huge value and are housed in international collections,” she concludes.

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A WORLD

OF WINE

The striking entrance to Nederburg Manor.

Despite only being able to compete in the global wine arena post-1994, both South Africa’s well-established wine farms and its emerging makers are impacting the world stage, notes JARED RUTENBERG

IT’S IN THE SOIL Niel Groenewald is the managing director of Nederburg – one of the country’s most established wineries, which falls under the umbrella company Distell. Reflecting on the South African context, he says: “We have the oldest viticultural soils in the world.

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We have been making wine for over 350 years, winemakers and viticulturists work closely to understand and bring out the best from the soil to grow multiple varieties successfully.”

There can, however, be no celebration of varietals, without a relentless dedication and some innovation. Groenewald, like so many of the country’s producers, speaks with much pride at what they have achieved: “We have the integrity and sustainability seal on our bottles and some of the strictest control systems in the world, ensuring full traceability and audit trail for social responsibility and sustainability.

The diverse climate and regions bring interesting offerings to the global arena that can’t be copied and our price-quality equation on all quality levels is among the best in the world.”

The hallmark of innovation also plays a central role. The Constantia Wine Route gives a clear example of how the elements of heritage and innovation needn’t be at odds with being a New World producer. Although Constantia is both the country and

Niel Groenewald

Nederburg wines being poured for tasting.

Southern Hemisphere’s first wine-producing area, this proud heritage is complemented with a forward-thinking and constantly innovative approach to telling the story.

This month, the region launches a South African first – a wine route completely dedicated to a single varietal.

Since Sauvignon Blanc is where the valley hangs its hat, guests will be able to taste their way through eight experiences dedicated to the varietal, including current and older vintages.

“WE HAVE BEEN MAKING WINE FOR OVER 350 YEARS, WINEMAKERS AND VITICULTURISTS WORK CLOSELY TO UNDERSTAND AND BRING OUT THE BEST FROM THE SOIL TO GROW MULTIPLE VARIETIES SUCCESSFULLY.” –

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lthough South Africa is the oldest wine-producing region in the New World, as a result of the sanctions imposed during the apartheid era, it was only able to compete in the global wine arena post-1994. Achieving the level of recognition it has, in such a small amount of time, is surely quite amazing.

How then has South Africa so significantly made its mark? Through many industry conversations, a collective voice has affirmed that the innovation, determination, variety and creativity that abound in the South African context are what we have to thank.

I recall speaking to one of the 2019 Wines of South Africa Sommelier Cup finalists.

Seeing a dazzled look on his face, I asked what he was pondering. I have never forgotten his response: “You don’t know how lucky you are. You really have the world of wine – and all within two hours’ drive of Cape Town. You simply don’t find this elsewhere.”

NIEL GROENEWALD, NEDERBURG

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W INES

POPULAR HOTSPOT

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t’s our terroir (the environmental factors affecting a crop’s phenotype) that makes our wines so distinctive,” comments the marketing manager of the Constantia Wine Route, Carryn Wiltshire. “Our winemakers work with the natural elements that make up the uniqueness of the Constantia wine region, producing world-class Sauvignon Blancs that have depth and character as they age.” Constantia is only one of the many South African regions that are celebrating their unique terroir and

finding creative ways to express the narrative of their vineyards.

Of course, part of South Africa’s uniqueness is its incomparable tourism offering. The Winelands is the country’s most visited tourism hotspot, after the Cape Town Waterfront. An estimated 29 per cent of all foreign visitor spending takes place in the Western Cape – a salutary effect for the industry and for introducing guests to our wine.

Writing about South Africa, Tim Atkins, master of wine and leading commentator on New World Wines, penned in a recent report: “It remains a forward-looking place whose best days are ahead of it.”

We shall certainly raise a glass to that!

THE WINELANDS IS THE COUNTRY’S MOST VISITED TOURISM HOTSPOT, AFTER THE CAPE TOWN WATERFRONT. AN ESTIMATED 29 PER CENT OF ALL FOREIGN VISITOR SPENDING TAKES PLACE IN THE WESTERN CAPE.

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A BONNIE EMERGING WINEMAKER Salome Buys-Vermeulen is the winemaker at Lozarn Wines in the small village of Bonnievale, outside Robertson. She was quick to share why she considers South Africa to be such a key player in the global industry.

“South Africa was one of the very first New World winemaking countries and we certainly don’t have to stand back for the older, more established countries. Through leading technology and research facilities within our country, we have certainly been able to establish our niches and develop great styles. Very much true to our South African spirit, we don’t give up easily.

Even in the wine industry, we have seen how boundaries have been tested and how new regions have formed because people believed it could work.”

As an emerging winemaker, does she feel that in South Africa she had the benefit of being able to express her creativity and innovation?

“I think in a way, yes – we don’t have the history and the stigma of Old World winemaking countries where you have to adhere to strict rules and regulations in terms of what cultivars you are allowed in what region and how you make them, but of course that all happens within the rules and structure of the Wine & Spirit Board – Wines of South Africa.”

EMERGING FROM A HISTORICAL WINE REGION Berene Sauls is the owner and winemaker of Tesselaarsdal Wines, not far from the Overberg’s Hemel-en-Aarde region. Her story is one firmly rooted in the history of the region, and already her maiden 2015 vintage has left its mark on wine writers and drinkers, both in South Africa and abroad.

What are her thoughts on South African wines on the global stand?

“South Africa produces some of the best wines in the world, expressive of site, climate and origin.

Hemel-en-Aarde is known for cool maritime climate and clay-rich soils, which are perfect for Burgundian Varieties Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and is often referenced to wines produced in Burgundy, France.”

The master of wine, Greg Sherwood, referred to Sauls’ Red Burgundy as the “next SA Pinot Noir icon” and on the local scene, it was rated five stars in the John Platter Wine Guide.

And, what are her dreams for the South African wine industry?

“To keep the standard of quality, producing the best wines suitable to its region. Furthermore, as the owner of my property in Tesselaarsdal Overberg, soon to be planted with vines, I would love to see more generational family-owned vineyards, each with its unique history, adding to the already prestigious list of estates.”

Salome Buys-Vermeulen

Buys-Vermeulen also commented on the startling variety of cultivars in South Africa.

“The fact that we can test all cultivars in different regions, and even in smaller districts, helps us to not become narrow-minded and it also proves that terroir is of the essence if we are willing to find that perfect spot. Carménère was that drawcard for us at Lozarn Wines. By trying something new in our district, we learned so much more from this cultivar – more than any book or source would have been willing to share, I think.”

Barrels of Tesselaarsdal wines.

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PROF IL E

PADS WITH

PURPOSE PUSELETSO MOMPEI talks to cancer survivor Nazlie Nordien-Mohedeen about her eco-friendly sanitary pads

Nottinghill pads are eco-friendly.

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PAST EXPERIENCE, PRESENT PRESSURES

FAST FACT

Womxn is an alternative spelling to “woman/women”, used as a way to reclaim the identity of womanhood as inclusive and intersectional, and not defined in relation to men.

Nottinghill pads are suitable for women across the board.

Though bringing the pads to life had been in the works for the duo, the outbreak of COVID-19 and its impact on all businesses meant they had to figure out new ways to survive. In addition to supplying cloth masks, Nordien-Mohedeen now found she had the time to fully direct her attention and efforts towards creating her dream range of reusable pads.

KIND TO THE POCKET AND ENVIRONMENT

The upfront cost of a single reusable pad is higher than that of a disposable pad, but in the Decades of knowledge and experience in the long-term, it evens out. “Our pads were created fashion industry enabled Nordien-Mohedeen to to help environmental efforts to reduce the fire up her skills and create an eco-friendly line unnecessary waste resulting of reusable pads. from the convenient use of “Unlike the single-use disposable sanitary products,” disposable pads, our product is says Nordien-Mohedeen. made entirely out of exceptional She adds that going this quality fabrics. The purpose route makes sense because behind using these specific not only does it reduce fabrics is to ensure that our the accumulative costs of pads are soft, comfortable, extra purchasing sanitary products absorbent and can be reused every month, but it is also over an extended time without Nazlie Nordien-Mohedeen healthier. The rashes and the fear of infection. After much skin irritations experienced trial and error, we are confident by womxn resulting from the use of harsh in the choices made and materials used to chemicals, as well as the unbelievable produce Nottinghill Pads,” she explains.

“OUR PADS WERE CREATED TO HELP ENVIRONMENTAL EFFORTS TO REDUCE THE UNNECESSARY WASTE RESULTING FROM THE CONVENIENT USE OF DISPOSABLE SANITARY PRODUCTS.” – NAZLIE NORDIEN-MOHEDEEN, NOTTINGHILL PADS 26

environmental side effects caused by single-use pads and tampons are reduced.

It was also interesting to note how many people in South Africa assumed that reusable pads were a great idea for underprivileged women only and not something to be considered within the more privileged classes.

“However, we definitely believe that an eco-friendly alternative to single-use pads is something that benefits all womxn.

Furthermore, environmental efforts should not be placed solely on the shoulders of the already vulnerable and underprivileged communities, especially when they are only responsible for a small portion of a percentage of global waste,” says Nordien-Mohedeen.

THE SOCIAL REALITIES OF MENSTRUATION In South Africa, period poverty is an issue that plagues the lives of many womxn. Some 30 per cent of young South African womxn do not attend school when menstruating because of limited access to sanitary products.

“The issue cannot be ignored and we hope to collaborate with other NGOs and charities throughout the country to freely distribute our pads to all womxn in need of the product,” says Nazlie Nordien-Mohedeen.

She notes that the journey has exponentially increased her dedication to creating the best reusable pad possible, as well as the experience of collaborating with young minds.

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ottinghill Pads describes itself as a proudly South African, womxn of colour (WOC) owned and run start-up that produces high-quality reusable sanitary pads.

The pads are the brainchild of Nazlie Nordien-Mohedeen who, for over two decades, has been the force behind the successful family business, House of Nazlie, where she designed high-end exclusive fashion lines for women, men and children.

After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019, she began educating herself on the various ways to lead an overall healthier lifestyle. This led to her becoming more consciously aware of the toxins and harmful chemicals used in hygiene products, and the negative impact they have upon our health as well as the environment at large.

For the past two-and-a-half years, she and her eldest daughter have combined their dynamic skills and efforts to create a line of high-quality reusable sanitary pads.

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PROF IL E

HATCHING The store entrance to We Are Egg.

NEW IDEAS In a unique new concept that benefits landlords and smaller creative retailers, e-commerce and retail are combined for a new generation of consumer. LISA WITEPSKI takes a look However, he says, there is one area where malls have an advantage over their e-commerce rivals, and that’s entertainment – the one factor that may lure shoppers away from their laptops.

NEW RETAIL OFFERING We Are Egg’s centre court.

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elf-described serial entrepreneur Paul Simon’s latest venture, Egg, sees retail reinvented in a way that favours small businesses, local entrepreneurs and consumers hoping to support both.

It’s Saturday morning and the Irene Market is bustling. Behind his stall, the shwarma chef’s hands fly over fillings and sauces, and over at the gardening corner, a woman is inspecting the leaves trailing over the side of a hanging basket, while in yet another aisle, a couple ooh and aah over hand-painted ceramics.

Meanwhile, over in Johannesburg, the corridors of one of the largest shopping centres in the southern hemisphere remain sullenly quiet, the shops lining them empty but for one or two browsers.

It’s this contrast between the two shopping destinations that intrigued Simon, founder of the highly successful Young Designers Emporium back in 1995. He explains that he had been approached by several shopping centre owners to ask Paul Simon why consumers are reluctant to return to their cathedrals of commerce, relaxed lockdown restrictions notwithstanding. “The theory is that retail is dead, but the popularity of markets shows that this simply isn’t true. It’s just that the shopping centre model is broken,” says Simon.

The food court at We Are Egg.

Not that he’s surprised. It’s a model that is intrinsically unkind to the entrepreneurs who are increasingly capturing consumers’ attention. Say, for example, you’re a clothing designer who has amassed a significant following on social media. Chances are you wouldn’t be able to translate your success into the mall environment, and not just because rent is prohibitive. Leasing documents remain onerous and inaccessible, even to those who have experience, and many would-be tenants baulk at the idea of abiding by mall regulations governing their shopfronts.

There’s another reason shopping centres are losing out, says Simon, and that’s their lack of agility. He points to food trends as an example: just a few years ago, it was restaurants offering Banting meals that attracted customers, now, it’s veganism that draws diners – and if food court tenants aren’t able to keep up, they’re letting the mall down.

“THE THEORY IS THAT RETAIL IS DEAD, BUT THE POPULARITY OF MARKETS SHOWS THAT THIS SIMPLY ISN’T TRUE. IT’S JUST THAT THE SHOPPING CENTRE MODEL IS BROKEN.” – PAUL SIMON, EGG

Simon and Egg co-founder Arie Fabian were careful to take all of these factors into account when introducing their new retail platform, starting with entertainment. The We Are Egg store, housed in Cape Town’s Cavendish Square, features a 100m2 centre court, equipped with sound, lighting and DJ decks, that can be set up to create any kind of retail theatre – think make-up masterclasses, for example. There’s a customisation zone, where customers can tweak partners’ wares to suit them; a hot desk that can be hired by artists as a temporary makers’ venue, and a calm pod, featuring twinkle lights and trance music.

Those are the drawcards for customers.

For retail partners, the appeal is in being able to access mainstream retail space without paying for shop fittings, staff or utilities. Depending on a business’s lifecycle stage, entrepreneurs can rent a space measuring 10m2 or half or even a quarter of that. And they’re not locked into a lease – if the arrangement isn’t working (for either party), all that’s needed to exit is one month’s notice.

There are currently 250 partners, 82 per cent of which are local and 82 per cent of which are SMEs. Simon agrees that this is an achievement, but notes that it comes with challenges – essentially, the Egg team is managing 250 businesses, some of which struggle to keep up with demand for stock.

This impacts the team, as their income model hinges on taking a percentage of sales – so, no stock, no sales, no income.

Simon is therefore working on a more formal funding model.

He’s also looking to take Egg to Johannesburg and Durban and launch an e-commerce channel shortly. “I believe this is the future of retail, it’s that simple,” he concludes.

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PROF IL E

HOW A KREEPY DESIGN PUT SA INNOVATION ON THE MAP

Kreepy Krauly Pro

The “dug-dug-dug” of the Kreepy Krauly is the sound of South Africa’s innovation heartbeat, suggests TREVOR CRIGHTON

ENTERING THE MASS MARKET By 1974, the automatic pool cleaner was ready for trial.

Danny took examples to clients, who were reluctant to hand them back after he’d demonstrated their efficiency in their pools. Christened the Kreepy Krauly, enough examples had

been sold by 1978 to invest in plastic injection moulding production, and the first products, as we would recognise them today, hit the mass market. Though aspects of the product have been modernised, the fundamental design and mechanism have remained essentially the same for the last 43 years.

After Ferdinand passed away in 1985, Danny continued to run the company, but eventually sold the rights to American company Pentair in 1999 on the back of a promise that they would expand the brand into other pool products like pumps, filters, lights and tools.

Though Pentair owns the rights to sales in many international regions, South African company Four Waters Pool Solutions brought the Southern African distribution rights back home in 2018, and continue to produce components that they export to the USA, where the products are assembled.

“All the components for every Kreepy Krauly are produced here, by our local team, from locally sourced materials,” says Four Waters Pool Solutions sales director, Hermias Nel. “Many of our team have been with the company for at least 15–20 years. Sadly, we lost our longest-serving team member, production manager Welcome Thokwe, to COVID-19 last year after 37 years with the company. He joined us straight after finishing school and spent his entire career working with Kreepy Krauly. Our main boardroom is now named in his honour and the company still feels the loss every day.”

Over 1.5 million Kreepy Krauly cleaners have been sold internationally throughout the brand’s history and Nel says they’ve been lucky to celebrate 635 per cent growth since 1998 – and at least 10 per cent year-on-year for the last decade.

“We’re incredibly lucky that last year’s lockdowns didn’t hurt us too badly in terms of sales numbers. With more people spending

“ALL THE COMPONENTS FOR EVERY KREEPY KRAULY ARE PRODUCED HERE, BY OUR LOCAL TEAM, FROM LOCALLY SOURCED MATERIALS.” – HERMIAS NEL, FOUR WATERS POOL SOLUTIONS 30

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The prototype of the Kreepy Krauly.

time at home, they upgraded and spent more time swimming,” he says.

The Kreepy Krauly team relies on a small pool of designers to produce their products – including Danny Chauvier’s US-based son, who develops new elements. Products like the Hug Bug were designed by a South African of Czech extraction, Paul Sebor, who continues to work on new products for the brand, today.

“While there’s a trend in the rest of the world towards adopting electric, motorised cleaners, they’re very expensive, so we see the future of Kreepy Krauly – particularly in South Africa – as continuing to be driven by suction cleaners,” says Nel. “The brand lives on here and driven by wonderful campaigns like Octopus documentary-spoofing ‘My Kreepy Krauly Teacher’, continues to be close to South Africans’ hearts,” he concludes.

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he tale of the invention of pool cleaner Kreepy Krauly in South Africa is regularly mentioned in reverential tones alongside other innovations born at the foot of the continent. These proudly local innovations include the CAT scan machine, harbour-protecting dolosse, Pratley’s Putty, Sasol’s oil-from-coal process and Dr Chris Barnard’s heart transplant operation.

The brand is internationally recognised and, having once been bought out by a US conglomerate, now has a webbed footprint back home, where it belongs.

Hydraulics engineer Ferdinand Chauvier and his family arrived in South Africa as refugees from the then-Belgian Congo in 1951. He found work at a service station in Springs, and his son, Danny, started selling pool equipment and chemicals door-to-door a few years after that.

Danny planted the seed in Ferdinand’s mind when he noted that affluent South Africans loved their swimming pools, but struggled with the manual aspect of keeping them clean.

They started developing a device that could automate the process, building prototypes – and the eventual first production iteration – out of wood and rubber tubing, which were joined using heat from the family kitchen stove.

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CELEBRATING SOUTH AFRICAN INGENUITY There is much to be proud of when it comes to indigenous innovations and inventions. DALE HES looks at some of them

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outh Africans have always been resourceful people. Apart from our admirably peaceful transition to democracy, our country has produced some remarkable innovations that have spread around the world. From iconic shoes to groundbreaking medical achievements, we can proudly say that South Africa has left its mark on the global arena.

DID YOU KNOW?

In 2019, Prof Mashudu Tshifularo became the first person to transplant 3D-printed bones for reconstructive middle ear implants at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital. The 3D-printed bones effectively replace damaged ear bones and have resulted in more affordable treatments for patients around the world.

MEDICAL INNOVATIONS

Who could forget Dr Chris Barnard’s remarkable breakthrough in 1967, when he became the first surgeon to perform a human-to-human heart transplant. In the decades since then, our country has celebrated several significant achievements in the medical field.

Cape Town-born physicist Alan Cormack was instrumental in developing the first Computed Axial Tomography (CAT) scan in 1972, an invention that revolutionised medical imaging.

Cormack undertook the crucial research that led to the building of the first CAT scan machine by Godfrey Hounsfield. Following this, Cormack and Hounsfield both received the 1979 Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine.

The CAT scan was invented by Cape Town-born physicist Alan Cormack.

HOMEGROWN INVENTIONS WITH GLOBAL REACH

The veldskoen The first of these tough, iconic suede shoes was produced by Dutch settlers in South Africa in the 17th century, with the design influenced by the native Khoisan people. Today, veldskoen shoes are sold under a variety of brand names and have become popular around the world.

Four years ago, Nick Dreyer, Ross Zondagh and Nic Latouf began producing the shoes under the trademark name Veldskoen. Their

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endeavours have greatly expanded the global reach of the humble “vellie”.

“The veldskoen is one of the most iconic signifiers of being South African,” says Dreyer. “They are comfortable, hard-wearing and long-lasting. And they don’t take themselves too seriously, a bit like South Africans!”

Apart from connecting South Africans, the Veldskoen brand has taken the shoe to a different level, with actors Ashton Kutcher and Mark Cuban counted as ambassadors in the United States. Prince Harry also made the news when he showed off his pair of vellies.

“A year ago, we were only distributing in four countries, including South Africa.

Today, we are very proud to say that

The world-famous veldskoen.

Veldskoen is distributed in 28 countries,” says Dreyer.

In a move that will further bring international attention to the brand and vellies as a whole, the South African Olympic team will wear veldskoens at the opening ceremony of the games and when they are not competing or training.

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ome of South Africa’s best and brightest people have come up with weird and wonderful inventions that have taken their place on the global stage.

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IN V EN T IONS A ND INNOVAT IONS

Rooibos Tea

The SharkShield

South Africa’s favourite tea was born more than 300 years ago, when the Khoisan harvested leaves from the Aspalathus Linerearis plant – commonly known as rooibos – which they discovered could be brewed into a delicious, aromatic liquid.

Upon visiting South Africa in 1772, European botanist Carl Thunberg spread the word about the tea, and Dutch settlers began drinking it as an alternative to expensive, imported tea from Asia.

Rooibos tea is exported to over 30 countries around the globe.

SharkShield South African spearfisherman Pieter Zietsman is making the water safer for adventurers with an ingenious invention that repels sharks from divers and watercraft. The SharkShield device includes an ankle unit for divers, an antenna that fits onto a surfboard, and a unit that can be attached to a kayak.

He explains that the SharkShield uses a unique waveform elliptical field that only affects free-swimming sharks.

“The SharkShield generates this field, which is detected by the shark through sensory receptors situated in the snout of all predatory sharks.

The unique and unfamiliar pulsing sensation does not replicate that given off by a fish and therefore does not attract sharks. This allows you to safely fish, photograph, dive or swim in the water with other marine animals,” Zietsman says.

SHARKSHIELD USES A UNIQUE WAVEFORM ELLIPTICAL FIELD THAT ONLY AFFECTS FREE-SWIMMING SHARKS. SOUTH AFRICA’S NEXT BIG BREAKTHROUGH – AN HIV VACCINE? Vaccine trials led by the University of the Witwatersrand have shown promising results for the long-awaited development of an effective vaccine to prevent HIV. The study, called HPTN 084, compares two HIV-prevention regimens, including an antiretroviral drug and the prevention medication, Truvada.

Over 3 200 sexually active women from seven African countries were enrolled in the study between November 2017 and November 2020.

Preliminary findings have shown that only one per cent of participants were infected with HIV, proving that both drugs could prove to be highly effective prevention measures.

SA’s favourite tea, rooibos.

COVID-19-killing lights Following the arrival of COVID-19, numerous innovations, which have helped control the spread of the virus, have sprung up. In May 2020, South African Conrad Kullman travelled to an expo in Belgium where he discovered far-UVC, a type of UV light that can help to kill COVID-19.

Kullman decided that he would develop his own product range using the lights, under the brand name of FAR UVC Africa.

“We have developed seven human-safe sanitation products, from lights, hand sanitation units and gateways in vehicle devices to trolley sanitation tunnels. Far-UVC can be used in occupied areas and poses no risk to humans or animals, no matter how long you are exposed to it,” Kullman says.

Far-UVC Africa’s COVID-19-killing lights.

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He adds that the lights can be used in virtually every public space, from hospitals to schools, restaurants, hotels, public transport facilities, prisons and airports.

FAR UVC Africa is already being sold through 21 distributors in 12 countries.

“Our mission is to have a lasting impact on humanity by creating a safer environment in which people live, work and travel. Our goal is to reduce the amount of annual superbug and viral infections, lower the number of patients suffering from these deadly diseases and relieve the burden of the billions of rands that infections cost our healthcare system,” Kullman explains.

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A DV ER T ORI A L

SWARTLAND MARKS 70 YEARS OF QUALITY AND INNOVATION The Swartland Group, a leading South African manufacturer of quality windows and doors for South Africa’s building industry, celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2021

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ith nationwide sustainable manufacturing operations, Swartland is a key provider of employment opportunities with a national distribution footprint and a focus on technological innovation, design and production efficiency.

Swartland now has an annual turnover of around R1.2bn, over 1 500 employees and six manufacturing plants.

Its product range includes brand names synonymous with the building sector: • The Cape Culture, Winsters and Kayo ranges of wooden windows, doors and doorframes.

• Col: FSC-approved softwood and hardwood pine timber.

• Kenzo: aluminium windows and doors.

• Summit and Knauf: insulation.

• Hydro and Digi: garage doors and automation.

Swartland CEO Hans Hanekom says: “Seventy years is a significant milestone for any company, especially in these tough economic times. We’re grateful to be able to pursue expansion into new regions and new products by constantly diversifying our offering.

“We will pursue our ethos of ‘Building Together,’ which speaks to building relationships with our valued customers, suppliers and colleagues, as well as helping rebuild South Africa physically with our range of products. Quality is crucial to that effort, and it’s quality that goes beyond our products: it’s infused into every facet of the business and

Swartland’s Cape Culture range of windows, doors and doorframes.

our relationships with personnel, customers and suppliers. It’s why we invest in making our operations more efficient. It’s also why we urge our personnel to look past their computers and production lines and to know we’re all part of a greater mission to deliver durable quality to the homes of millions of South Africans,” Hanekom says.

With more than 42 000m2 of warehouse space and a national distribution footprint that’s supported in nine major centres around South Africa, Swartland has a reputation for ensuring that its products are available, reliable and manufactured to the highest quality, with aftersales service to match, says Hanekom.

Swartland also owns the Boskor Sawmill in the southern Cape, which supplies FSC-certified (Forestry Stewardship Council) pine timber.

But sustainability goes beyond certification: Swartland’s factories produce minimal waste, with innovative recycling systems that use excess woodchips to fuel the boilers that kiln-dry its wood products. High-tech air-management systems dramatically reduce harmful emissions, and waste is recycled and reused wherever possible.

The Swartland story began in 1951 with Oupa Hanekom in the small town of Moorreesburg – at the time, little more than a village amid the wheatfields north of Cape Town. What started as a modest operation to supply the local community with hardware and electrical goods soon began to specialise in joinery and blossomed.

Oupa’s son, Oom Jurgens, brought the philosophy of continuous improvement to the business. Today, the third generation of Hanekoms – Jurie, James and Hans – embrace traditional values such as a strong ethic and pride in one’s work, combined with innovation and a forward-thinking approach to business.

The results speak for themselves: Swartland’s products are perfectly crafted and made to last. They are all leading products in their class and backed by knowledgeable national service teams.

Its management systems are approved by the stringent South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) ISO 9001. Swartland is one of the most recognised and respected brands in the building industry.

Hanekom says: “These are exciting, challenging times for us all. We’re looking forward to the next seventy years of efficiency, innovation and customer service and, above all, ensuring our customers always have a quality experience.”

For more information: 0861 102425 www.swartland.co.za

“WE WILL PURSUE OUR ETHOS OF ‘BUILDING TOGETHER,’ WHICH SPEAKS TO BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR VALUED CUSTOMERS, SUPPLIERS AND COLLEAGUES, AS WELL AS HELPING REBUILD SOUTH AFRICA PHYSICALLY WITH OUR RANGE OF PRODUCTS.” – HANS HANEKOM MADE IN SA

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EN V IRONMEN T

CHEMICAL COMPANIES THAT CARE Man-made chemicals can have devastating effects on the environment, however, some local companies are working hard to change this, reports DALE HES Plascon manufactures paints that are entirely free of APEO chemicals.

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ompanies that work with chemicals are often guilty of ground, water and air pollution, but several South African companies have made it their mission to be environmentally friendly and are living up to and exceeding regulatory requirements.

PLASCON’S GREEN APPROACH Plascon, one of South Africa’s oldest paint companies, has a core philosophy around environmental sustainability, with an intense focus on producing paints that are free from harmful chemicals.

“Furthering Plascon’s commitment to environmental conservation has been a mandate for the brand, which continues to

take meaningful steps to reduce its impact on the environment with leaps and bounds in green technology,” says Suvasin Moodley, head of Marketing (Decorative) at Plascon.

One of the most recent of these innovations has been the introduction of paints that are entirely free from APEO (alkylphenol ethoxylates) chemicals.

“Plascon TradePro Roof & More is entirely free of these chemicals,” Moodley says.

“Conventional roof paints contain APEOs that, over time, leach into waterways through rain and drainage – eventually contaminating the soil, water tables, rivers and, ultimately, oceans.”

Plascon also produces decorative coatings that are lead-free and have a low volatile

organic compounds (VOCs) content. VOCs are human-made contaminants used and produced in the processing of, or as, paints, adhesives and petroleum products.

“Many of us don’t know what goes into paint. The food industry, on the other hand, has been carefully regulated so that all ingredients are listed upfront on the packaging.

Yet this is not the case with coatings for our home. You have to be careful about what you buy,” Moodley points out.

The company’s approach to manufacturing, whereby stringent environmental management systems are implemented in its plants, has seen the company maintaining an ISO 14001 accreditation since 2005.

“FURTHERING PLASCON’S COMMITMENT TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION HAS BEEN A MANDATE FOR THE BRAND, WHICH CONTINUES TO TAKE MEANINGFUL STEPS TO REDUCE ITS IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT.” – SUVASIN MOODLEY, PLASCON

SUSTAINABILITY FROM SASOL

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n the fuel production sector, Sasol has pumped millions of rands into ensuring that its operations are as environmentally friendly as possible.

Dr Sarushen Pillay, vice president of Environmental Sustainability, concedes that Sasol cannot completely eliminate an impact on the environment, but says that much is being done to mitigate this.

“Sasol is dependent on natural resources, including coal, crude oil, natural gas and water, for our business activities. These activities have an unavoidable impact on the environment, but we remain committed to minimising these impacts,” says Pillay, explaining that the company’s actions are directed by the core values of safety, health and the environment (SHE).

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SUPPORTING ECO-FRIENDLY PROJECTS Companies that work with chemicals are increasingly supporting environmental organisations. Plascon, for example, has provided support to the Wilderness Leadership Foundation, the Endangered Wildlife Trust and the SPCA.

“Sasol mitigates the risks related to air quality, water consumption, waste footprint, land use and the impact on biodiversity through the investigation of alternative feedstocks, optimised processes, improved efficiency, and focused abatement technology retrofits. This includes offsets, monitoring air quality through an extensive monitoring network as well as research of the impacts on the environment.”

Pillay highlights initiatives such as the Secunda Chemical Operations Nitro Facility, which implements various rehabilitation projects to address water pollution.

“Unfavourable water balance poses an increased risk of potential overflows, resulting in the uncontrolled release of nitrogen-containing wastewater to the

environment, mostly during the rainy season. The nitro facility has mitigated this impact.”

Air quality management is also being improved through detailed monitoring and reporting of emissions, actively tracking and focusing on compliance, and sustainably reducing emissions from its operations. This has resulted in particulate matter emissions decreasing by 50 per cent since 2014.

Meanwhile, Sasol is a major sponsor of BirdLife South Africa and also sponsors the production of leading bird books.

The company also has a small mammal research project around its plant in Secunda, Mpumalanga, which protects threatened grasslands and wetlands, and the various species that live in these areas, near the plant.

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Sasol believes in sustainability.

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SUS TA IN A BIL I T Y

A recent global hackathon brought together multiple disciplines and participants to develop a more sustainable and healthy approach to living.

By RODNEY WEIDEMANN With low-income communities sometimes not able to access the main electricity grid, there was a need to enable more environmentally friendly sources of energy for basic daily functions like cooking.

Nadia Mitchell, one of the designers, says that the team felt socially responsible to bring a solution forward. “We have created a product that is robust, reliable and adapted from an existing appliance, making it strong and easy to manufacture. With this solution, both the end-user and environment ultimately benefit,” she says.

The second prize in this category also went to a made-in-SA solution – Shoeciety – created by Second Nature, a group of industrial design students from the University of Johannesburg. They recognised how often low-income households struggle to replace children’s shoes as they outgrow them. Essentially, they designed a modular shoe that can be adjusted repeatedly to the Shoeciety by Second Nature. continuously growing feet of the youth.

According to student Tanaka Mapondera, the shoes can be adjusted by up to four efy’s recent ‘”Hack the Normal” sizes. “The adjustable parts will be made initiative, a unique, online hackathon from biodegradable materials like hemp and focused on contributing to the sisal, while rubber from car tyres is proposed advancement of African-led projects for the sole. This way, we that focus strongly on help reduce rubber waste sustainability of trade, natural and provide long-lasting, resources and life on the continent. sustainable footwear to The ultimate goal was to inspire and those who need it most.” facilitate the development of new Winner of the first prize in ideas and projects that will make the Healthy Living category the lives of people on the continent was Indus-Trio, a group that much easier. of three youngsters who Three groups of young South focused on designing a Africans placed among the winners, product that functions as with two first places and a second Sebastian Heunis both a water container and place. Winners in the Sustainable filter for rural communities.

Living category, DSP’s Biogas The container enables people to transport Cooker was created by a group of design and large amounts of water. development engineers from KwaZulu-Natal Indus-Trio’s Sebastian Heunis says that as an alternative, reliable and sustainable this should mean a better way of life for rural energy source.

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“WE HAVE CREATED A PRODUCT THAT IS ROBUST, RELIABLE AND ADAPTED FROM AN EXISTING APPLIANCE, MAKING IT STRONG AND EASY TO MANUFACTURE. WITH THIS SOLUTION, BOTH THE END-USER AND ENVIRONMENT ULTIMATELY BENEFIT.” – NADIA MITCHELL, DSP 38

MADE IN SA

TOP SOLUTIONS The top three places in each category were awarded prize money of $5 000, $3 000, $2 000 for first, second and third places respectively.

Sustainable Living top three • A reliable and durable cooker that uses biogas energy.

• A platform to create adjustable, multifunctional shoes in localised supply chains for low-income households.

• A platform to connect and support volunteers.

Financial Solutions top three • A solution that allows customers to use products as services through subscription.

• A web-based solution that collects, compares and presents remittances for individuals and SMEs. • A blockchain-based solution for fast and secure trade without third parties.

Healthy Living top three • A product that functions as a container and filter for rural communities to transport large amounts of filtered water.

• A healthy food delivery service that provides personalised nutrition solutions.

• An application allowing patients to provide feedback on their hospital experiences. This feedback is then used by artificial intelligence to detect discrimination trends.

communities, as well as improved hygiene and fewer issues with diseases and infections. It will also mean fewer long journeys for those who collect the water – mostly women, who often walk up to 6km to collect water that is nonetheless often unhygienic.

“Our solution was ultimately inspired by the rich history and design of African pottery and uses cheap and long-lasting ceramic filters to purify the water. It also has a built-in tap to provide easy access to clean drinking water,” Heunis explains.

The winning project teams will work with Defy to develop their projects further.

“It’s very encouraging to see such strong interest from innovators around the world.

I congratulate all the winners and hope that these innovations will have a real impact on people’s lives,” says Evren Albas, CEO of Defy Appliances.

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SA YOUTH ADDRESS KEY AFRICAN CHALLENGES

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FA MOUSLY SOU T H A F RICA N

PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN ICONIC BRANDS AND PRODUCTS

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What do South Africans crave when they leave home and what products do tourists want to try first? asks LISA WITEPSKI • Biltong. The idea of dried meat may not sound particularly attractive, but, as anyone munching on a handful before a braai or during a rugby match will tell you, it’s irresistible. It is said that the snack was created by Voortrekkers looking for a way to preserve food during the Great Trek.

• Rooibos. Grown only in the Cedarberg, it quenches thirst and contains antioxidants that may fight cancer and boost heart health.

• Rusks. Morning coffee isn’t the same without dipping a glorified biscuit.

• Koeksusters. The ultimate sweet tooth satisfiers. There’s nothing like a twist of fried dough dripping with golden syrup to cure a sugar craving.

• Amasi. More than a nutritious drink, this traditional soured milk is becoming a star ingredient in scones and marinades, and it’s even been used to put a local twist on desserts like sorbet.

• Pinotage. South Africa’s very own wine varietal. Local lore has it that pinotage was created when Professor Abraham Izak Perold blended Hermitage (cinsault) and Pinot Noir grapes back in the 1920s. By 2018, 6 791ha of South Africa’s winelands were dedicated to Pinotage vines and almost 17 million litres of the varietal were exported.

• Shweshwe. The distinctive indigo patterned fabric said to have originally been gifted to King Moshoeshoe by the French has evolved to encompass a variety of shades and designs, though that one-of-a-kind smell remains unchanged.

• Piquante peppers. These little peppers burst onto the culinary scene in the 1990s, after being discovered by a farmer in Limpopo. They add a bit of sweet sizzle to everything from pizza to enchiladas.

• Veldskoens. They may be having a fashion moment, but it’s believed that the Khoisan were the first to wear a version of these tanned leather shoes, later copied by the Dutch settlers.

• Cream soda. Not, perhaps, strictly South African, although our local cream soda is said to taste different to varieties available in other countries. The biggest difference is the colour: in other countries, cream soda is often clear or blue.

Rooibos

Biltong

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THE BRANDS WE LOVE Made in South Africa, exported to the world. These are the brands that make us brim with pride.

• Niknaks: Crunchy, salty, vaguely cheesy in a highly artificial way: there’s nothing to rival everyone’s favourite corn snack.

• Peppermint Crisp: Last year there were rumours that these chocolates were going to disappear from our shelves – and South Africans were outraged. How could we make peppermint crisp pudding without it, and what would braais be like without that classic standby?

• Maxhosa Knitwear: Flying the flag high for South African design, Laduma Ngxokolo’s luxurious knitwear, featuring distinctive patterns inspired by Xhosa beadwork, has gained a remarkable international following.

• All Gold Tomato Sauce: First made in South Africa in 1908, when the recipe was brought to a Paarl-based jam maker by Scottish chemist John Semble, it is today considered a standard for any burger.

• Ardmore Design: From a ceramics teaching project initiated by Fee Halstead in rural KwaZulu-Natal, Ardmore has become a well-respected international

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brand that now includes a range of textiles also featuring the trademark whimsical creatures that first helped it gain acclaim.

Kreepy Krauly: Saturday afternoons previously spent fishing leaves out the pool became a thing of the past when Ferdinand Chauvier, a hydraulics engineer from the Congo, settled in South Africa and together with his son, Daniel, created the first automated pool cleaner.

Mrs Ball’s Chutney: Yes, there really was a Mrs Ball! Amelia, married to Herbert Sandleton Ball, was the daughter of Captain Adkins, who saved the recipe for this chutney off a sinking ship in 1853. By 1917, the condiment had gained enough fans to necessitate establishing a factory.

Sally Willliams: It started with nougat, which chef Sally Williams made in her kitchen and sold to her cookery students.

By 2006, Sally had started exporting her confectionery around the world. Today, the range includes chocolates and Turkish Delight.

Amarula: The quintessential sundowner; obligatory when you’re in the bush.

Chappies: Giving us something to do with our cents, and feeding our hunger for trivia since the 1940s.

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UNIQUELY S OU T H A F RICA N

A LIST OF FIRSTS South Africa boasts several unique firsts in a diverse range of categories.

SIMON FOULDS takes a deeper look at 10 of these

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South Africa was the first African country to host the FIFA Soccer World Cup in 2010. It is only the second country in the world (after England) to have hosted the trilogy of Cricket, Rugby Union and Soccer World Cups.

Source: buzzsouthafrica.com

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South Africa was the first country to develop coal-to-oil technology.

Source: answersouthafrica.com

The longest continuous wine route on earth is found in South Africa. It is on Route 62 situated between Gqeberha and Cape Town. This scenic route passes through farming towns such as Calitzdorp, Ladismith, historic Amalienstein, Zoar and the fruit-growing and wine-producing towns of Barrydale, Montagu, Ashton, Bonnievale, Robertson, McGregor, Rawsonville, Worcester, Ceres, Wolseley, Tulbagh, Wellington and Paarl. It includes the Langkloof, with the following towns: Misgund, Louterwater, Krakeel, Joubertina and Kareedouw.

Source: route62.co.za and thefactfile.org

producer of gold, platinum, chromium, vanadium, manganese and alumino-silicates.

It also produces nearly 40 per cent of the world’s chrome and vermiculite. Other interesting mining facts include: the world’s two largest platinum mines are located near Rustenburg; the Rand Refinery is the largest refinery of gold in the world; Samancor Limited is the world’s largest producer by sales of manganese and chrome products; and South Africa has the fourth-largest coal reserves in the world. Its coal industry ranks sixth in the world in terms of output of hard coal and third in terms of seaborne international coal trade.

Source: uissl.co.za

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South Africa is the only country in the world to have produced two Nobel prizewinners who have lived in the same street – Vilakazi Street in Soweto. The two are former president Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu. Mandela received his prize in 1993, nine years after the Archbishop received his in 1984.

Source: answersouthafrica.com

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South Africa has bred its own red seedless table grape variety. The country has long been considered a serious producer of wines and has now upped its table grape growing status by breeding its own seedless red table grape variety, called Joybells. Until now, the table grape growing industry in SA was reliant on international grape breeding programmes. Now it has its own, indigenous variety, bred for the local soil and climate.

Source: blog-savenues.com

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It may surprise you to know that our little country, South Africa, is the largest macadamia nut producer in the world, with production increasing by 4 000 hectares a year. The nuts are mostly grown in the Limpopo region, as they do well in the more tropical areas where avocados, papayas, mangoes and bananas are grown.

Source: food24.com

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South African mines are deeper than any other country in the world, going down to a depth of 4km at the Western Deep Levels Mine. South Africa is the world’s biggest

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Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa, has the second-largest number of embassies in the world after Washington DC. Source: municipalities.co.za

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South Africa has the largest hydroelectric tunnel system in the world at the Orange Fish Rivers Tunnel. This tunnel is also the fourth largest tunnel in the world, measuring 82.8km.

Source: worldatlas.com

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South Africa is one of the 17 most megadiverse destinations in the world and its megadiversity has firmly ranked it as one of the top destinations in the world to visit.

The term “megadiverse country” refers to the world’s most biodiverse countries; to qualify, a country must have at least 5 000 of the world’s plants as endemics and also have marine ecosystems within its borders.

Source: blog-savenues.com

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PE T INDUS T RY

Wagworld’s nookie bag is perfect for pets during winter.

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he pet economy is booming, says Faeeza Khan from trends analysis company Flux Trends. “A major trend is the humanisation of pets,” she says.

For example, over $72-billion was spent on pets in the United States in 2018.

In South Africa, pet care products performed well in 2020 as relationships with pets improved during lockdowns, according to Euromonitor International’s 2021 report.

Barking up the right tree The humanisation of pets has thrown the pet business a tasty bone, writes NIA MAGOULIANITI-MCGREGOR Johannesburg and Cape Town to service some 1 000 outlets around the country.

PET NUTRITION IS A SERIOUS BUSINESS

PET ACCESSORIES IS A GROWING MARKET Morne Claassen, sales and marketing manager of Wagworld – dog bed and accessories manufacturer – agrees. “Seeing your furry friend as part of the family instead of a guard dog has resulted in a multimillion-rand industry.”

Wagworld was formed in 2007 after counsellor Chrissi Dickinson was given Lulu-Belle – a Pekingese puppy. According to Claassen: “Chrissi started designing some fun dog beds and a local CMT factory made them.”

As the business grew, Wagworld moved into a Salt River factory and now, 14 years later, supplies leading vet and pet stores.

“Today we have a 2 000 square metre factory and warehouse with a permanent staff complement of 35. Beds have names like Cosy Cup and Plush Cupcakes, and the range includes hammocks and Morne Claassen ‘blankies’. There’s even a ‘nookie bag’ for burrowing dogs in soft microfleece.

“Our beds offer quality, durability and excellent support and insulation against cold due to the recycled filling we use,” explains Claassen.

Dog’s Life beds are designed for pets’ comfort.

Venessa Hsu, founder of Dog’s Life, says her “uniquely designed products” including bedding, toys and clothing, were founded after a trip to California in 2006. “I thought South African dogs deserved nice things too.”

Her UCT colleague and now-husband, Chenyu Su, and business partner, Shayne Howard, were her backers. “They had about R40 000 to invest, but insisted I find customers first.” She did. They budgeted by working from a bachelors’ apartment.

As the company grew, Hsu designed dog clothing, including winter shawls and tank tops, and toys called Dogs vs Aliens Gastropods. “I’d get an idea then make it better and cheaper. Our rubber balls, for example, made from biodegradable material, are about a quarter of the price of imports.

Nothing we make has sharp edges. Designer dog bowls are next.”

The pandemic boosted business further, she adds, as there were more dog adoptions.

Dog’s Life has come a long way from that bachelors’ flat: Hsu now has offices in

“SEEING YOUR FURRY FRIEND AS PART OF THE FAMILY INSTEAD OF A GUARD DOG HAS RESULTED IN A MULTIMILLION-RAND INDUSTRY.” – MORNE CLAASSEN, WAGWORLD 44

The SA pet food market has about 200 brands, with Mordor Intelligences Africa Pet Food Nutraceuticals Market survey (2021) showing that South Africans take pet nutrition seriously, associating it with proteins, vitamins and minerals, fats and carbohydrates.

More recently, Afrique Pet Food, which was formed as a joint venture between AFGRI Animal Feeds and QSA Holdings, completed the acquisition of the Martin & Martin dry pet food manufacturing facility in Isando. This included two of Martin & Martin’s dry pet food brands – Epol dry cat and dog food as well as Vitagen dry dog food. JOCK Dog Food is the company’s existing scientifically formulated dog food.

“The market in South Africa is definitely growing,” says brand manager Louise Viviers.

“To support the local value chain, Afrique strives to source the majority of its energy and protein sources locally. All products are locally produced and formulated to support the South African economy.”

She says consumers expect to see ingredients listed – “especially the protein content” – to ensure a balanced diet for their pet. Digestibility and preference palatability trials are undertaken to ensure pet health. “Full traceability across the value chain is available,” explains Viviers.

As Khan points out, increasingly people will live in cities: “Tremendous business opportunities exist in this sector. The adoption of birds, fish and rodents has been on the decline, in favour of cats and smaller dogs that are more suited to urban living.”

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Wagworld’s Cupcake designer dog beds.

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LET’S THINK DIFFERENT

Together for Business and Environment WE SUPPLY: Natural Tartaric Acid (L+) Natural Cream of Tartar Grape Seed Extract Grape Seed Oil

All our products are sold in bulk

Brenn-O-Kem (Pty) Ltd specializes in transforming winery by products, such as skins, seeds and lees, into value-added natural products which are used in the wine industry, pharmaceutical industry, bakery and other markets.

Brenn-O-Kem (Pty) Ltd was established in 1968 and has proven track record for being a reliable and trustworthy supplier. Our products are manufactured to international standards. The most unique feature of our products is that they are all manufactured from natural raw materials.

Contact Elzabe Swiegers +27 23 2311060 exports@brennokem.co.za www.brennokem.co.za

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