Made In SA - October 2021 Edition

SOUTH AFRICAN

INFORMED

•

INNOVATIVE

•

INSPIRED

HOME OWNER

WELCOME HOME

INVENTIONS AND ICONIC BRANDS OCTOBER 2021

businessmediamags.co.za sahomeowner.co.za

WHY GOING LOCAL IS A MATTER OF SURVIVAL

Harvesting Saffron in SA

Building a

Healthier FUTURE

Our goal is to seek out every opportunity to uplift and transform lives – to build an inclusive, sustainable and healthier future for us all, for our planet, and for generations to come.

Inside SOUTH AFRICAN FIRSTS I FROM LOCAL TO GLOBAL I LOCAL FOOD DELIGHTS MISA2021_Cover_approved.indd 1

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Confidence Rule 60:

IF YOU BELIEVE IN IT, INVEST IN IT. Sanlam has been investing in people for more than 103 years – and we will continue to do so for centuries to come. That’s because our purpose is to empower generations to be financially secure, confident and prosperous.

Covid-19 support The Motsepe family, in partnership with companies including Sanlam and other oganisations associated with them, pledged

R1bn

to assist with the Covid-19 pandemic.

R531m

R463m

in excess claims paid by Sanlam Life and Savings.

to relief programmes for clients.

R246m

R255m for intermediary support.

Sanlam matched the staff contributions by donating R2.2m to food relief organisations in South Africa.

to various response initiatives.

R3m to Sanlam ESD programme beneficiaries.

R22bn

of mortality claims paid since the beginning of 2020, R10bn in the first 6 months of 2021.

More than 99%* of death claims paid in 2020, maintaining a 7-year record.

*Representative of the Sanlam Individual Life business

Financial literacy R77m

seeded to empower 61 000 people through financial literacy programmes since 2015.

Level 1 B-BBEE

Sanlam Gauge

This first-of-its-kind report was launched to measure the level of B-BBEE activity, commitment and success across all industries in SA.

Sanlam Cape Town Marathon

From 2022, the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon will join the exclusive club of top global marathons through the recent announcement of its Abbott World Marathon Majors candidacy status.

R900bn

Total Sanlam Investment Group assets under management.

Sanlam is a Licensed Financial Services Provider.

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KINGJAMES 53796

Socio-economic development R209m

R35m

R137m

invested in the last 20 years in Takalani Sesame to reach millions of South African children.

in prize money distributed and about 500 000 children reached since 2010 via the Kay Motsepe Schools Cup.

benefiting nearly 560 000 children annually via literacy and numeracy programmes since 2017.

$1bn

committed through the partnership between Sanlam, Climate Fund Managers and FMO, a Dutch development bank, that invests in water, wind and solar energy.

Sustainable investing

R2.25bn committed to seed three impact funds.

R14bn in asset balances for empowerment financing.

R140.4bn

Sanlam Benchmark

market cap as of 7 September 2021.

Job creation and enterprise development

R63m invested in Enterprise and Supplier Development over the past 7 years: • creating 391 sustainable jobs.

• securing 2 427 existing jobs.

• contributing on average 21% to revenue growth of participating SMEs. In 2020, R3.7bn of procurement was spent with black-owned businesses, with R1.7bn to blackowned SMEs and R934m to black women-owned SMEs.

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R75m contributed to water security over 13 years with the WWF.

celebrated 40 years of research and enabling retirement funds, employers and intermediaries to empower members to live and retire with confidence.

6

6 years running

Certified Top Employer in South Africa* *Top Employers Institute

People, diversity and inclusion 20 319 SA employees

147 541

75% black employees 61% female employees

employees in over 44 countries

R345.5m invested in training and development in 2020.

2021/10/11 13:23

A DV ER T ORI A L S A PPI

HOMEGROWN AND ROOTED IN SA, PROUDLY SERVING THE WORLD Local, as we know, is lekker. And that’s especially true for brands and companies that have sprung up from South African soil

In South Africa, Sappi’s tree scientists are leading the world with programmes designed to make Sappi’s woodfibre base more sustainable.

Almost two-thirds of the world’s lyocell dissolving pulp used in the manufacture of fashion garments, is produced

by Sappi.

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PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN

Delicious fresh fruit is exported in boxes made from Sappi’s homegrown raw material.

supply its ever-expanding customer base with indispensable products.

These products are used both locally and globally.

That’s a lot to be proud of, but it’s not all. In South Africa, Sappi’s tree scientists are leading the world with programmes designed to make Sappi’s woodfibre base more sustainable.

Sappi owns and leases approximately 394 000 hectares of plantations that are already impacted by climate change. Sappi, through its tree-breeding programme, is producing and selecting the most optimally suited hybrid varieties for each climatic zone and growing better trees faster.

By being socially and environmentally responsible and providing renewable products that meet local and global needs, Sappi is proud to be helping create a better tomorrow. Proud to be Sappi. Proud to be South African.

From textiles to tissue products, to packaging material and construction timber Think Verve, Sappi’s dissolving pulp (DP) brand, when you put on that dress that drapes so beautifully or the comfortable shirt that allows your skin to breathe, no matter how hot it is.

DP is a highly purified form of cellulose extracted using unique cellulose chemistry technology. In South Africa, it’s manufactured from eucalyptus trees grown in Sappi’s own plantations, all of which are 100 per cent third party certified to international standards. The

➔ Scan this QR code to go directly to the Sappi website.

For more information: www.sappi.com www.facebook.com/SappiGroup twitter.com/sappigroup www.linkedin.com/company/sappi

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any South Africans are familiar with the distinctive red Sappi Typek box that contains paper suitable for home and office needs. They would also most likely recognise Typek’s Earth Kind™ heart-shaped icon, which captures the essence of Sappi’s approach to sustainability and corporate citizenship. It signifies the care taken to make this product using waste sugarcane fibre with the remaining fibre coming from well-managed, sustainable plantations.

While South Africans know and love Typek, and are familiar with its brand challenge encouraging South Africans to “Live a Life of Note”, they probably don’t know that Sappi celebrates 85 years of existence in 2021.

Sappi initially began making paper from straw way back in 1936. From there, it has expanded manufacturing operations to three continents – Europe, North America and South Africa – each of which has diverse origins and competencies. However, they share a commitment to developing breakthrough technology that enables Sappi to develop the best products for its customers while evolving to suit their changing needs. Sappi also has a network of sales offices around the world to

majority of DP is consumed to make textiles, such as viscose and lyocell, where DP is converted to viscose and lyocell staple fibres. From there, the fibre is spun into yarns and, ultimately, textiles, providing naturally soft and breathable fabrics that are smooth to the touch, hold colour and drape well. Almost two-thirds of the world’s lyocell DP is produced at one of Sappi’s three DP mills – two of which are in South Africa. Isn’t it great to know that a South African product is helping to dress the world?

Think Sappi’s locally produced environmentally sustainable range of Triple Green Tissue papers made from sugarcane waste fibre next time you use toilet tissue, kitchen towels, serviettes or medical industrial wipes.

Think Sappi next time you see all the delicious fruit – particularly citrus – being shipped to different parts of the world, knowing that the raw material used to manufacture these boxes – and many others used for agricultural and industrial applications – was homegrown by Sappi.

See a building under construction; think Sappi as there’s a good chance the structural timber being used comes from Sappi’s Lomati Sawmill.

MADE IN SA

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F ROM T HE EDI T OR

LOCAL IS LEKKER AND SUCCESSFUL TOO

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Published by:

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 www.businessmediamags.co.za EDITORIAL Editor: Rodney Weidemann Content Manager: Raina Julies rainaj@picasso.co.za Contributors: Beth Amato, Trevor Crighton, Caryn Gootkin, Eustace Mashimbye, Itumeleng Mogaki, Thando Pato, Anna Trapido 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 Images: Supplied SALES Project Manager: Gavin Payne gavinp@picasso.co.za +27 21 469 2477 I +27 74 031 9774 Sales: Brian McKelvie, Corne Louw, Sameegha Wolhuter PRODUCTION Production Editor: Shamiela Brenner Ad Co-ordinator: Johan Labuschagne Subscriptions and Distribution: Fatima Dramat, fatimd@picasso.co.za Printing: Novus Print MANAGEMENT Management Accountant: Deidre Musha Business Manager: Lodewyk van der Walt General Manager Magazines: Jocelyne Bayer

elcome to the latest edition of Made in South Africa, where we feature all things local that can compete with the best. We look at some of the nation’s oldest brands and what keeps them ticking, as well as some young innovators, looking to solve social and economic issues with their unique vision.

Looking at examples of indigenous businesses that have gone from tiny local operations to massive global brands, we also consider how SA remains ahead when it comes to trialling new things.

The pandemic has severely impacted local businesses, so we chat to Clicks about the company’s renewed emphasis on local small and medium enterprise

CONTENTS

(SME) development and the success of its new SME supplier-listing portal.

Spurred on by the demands of the pandemic-driven lockdown, e-commerce in South Africa has witnessed significant growth in the past year. We talk to several e-commerce players.

We explore our unique and wide range of epicurean delights, which cover everything from the Gatsby to koeksisters and on to that quintessential form of cooking – the braai.

The pandemic has exposed the dangers of single supplier sources and highlighted the need to produce more goods locally. This dovetails with the view Proudly South African has been pushing for some years now.

Rodney Weidemann

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7 GROWING LOCAL We talk to Clicks about its strong emphasis on local SME development and its new SME supplier-listing portal

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15 SOUTH AFRICAN FIRSTS We look at developments in cashierless grocery shopping and the establishment of a local Saffron crop

A MATTER OF SURVIVAL The pandemic has highlighted the need for increased local production, something Proudly South African has been promoting for years

8 HOMEGROWN PIONEERS We profile two local companies in different sectors that have become global industries

SOUTH AFRICA’S EPICUREAN DELIGHTS South African cuisine offers an incredibly wide range of unique and tasty food, from the Gatsby to koeksisters and everything braai-related

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RACING TO SUCCESS Local firm Red-Lined International is taking the country’s proud history of designing, building and racing quick vehicles to the global stage

16 AMAZING FEATS We explore some success stories in wildlife, horror films, international trade routes and astronomy

20 AFRICAN INVENTIVENESS We shine the spotlight on some of South Africa’s creative alternatives to international brands

24 ICONIC BRANDS Many of our oldest brands have become loved and trusted parts of our every day lives

26 FROM LOCAL TO GLOBAL SOUTH AFRICAN

INFORMED

•

INNOVATIVE

•

INSPIRED

HOME OWNER

We look at some of the biggest success stories of indigenous businesses that have made a splash internationally

WELCOME HOME

29 E-COMMERCE ON THE RISE 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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Digitisation and the ongoing pandemic have been driving the recent significant growth of e-commerce. We look at the developments and successes in this area

2021/10/05 3:47 PM

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It was only after a lot of consideration that the beautiful, iconic sunbird was selected to represent another familiar occupant of the sky – Airlink’s aircraft.

Mirroring the airline’s philosophy best, this stunning sunbird’s behaviour symbolises how Airlink’s new tailfeathers bring freedom to southern Africa’s skies. The new look follows several developments, including the formal renaming of the company as ‘Airlink’ and signifies the airline’s transformation and new strategy as an independent, agile, responsive, and financially robust business.

Adorned in magnificently bright colours, sunbirds reflect the rich colours of the regions where they are found, namely sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar. Similarly, Airlink’s network covers the same areas as an interairline service provider. In fact, today, Airlink offers the widest route network with more flight choices, more destinations, and more travel opportunities.

What’s more is that the sunbird is an important pollinator in the African ecosystem. This behaviour mimics Airlink’s ability to connect business and leisure travellers at different points with unique travel destinations in widespread towns and cities. Consequently, this has a positive impact on both the local economy and travel industry.

Additional similarities include the sunbird’s fast and direct flight, which echoes Airlink’s quick and direct network, from point to point, with convenient, quick turnarounds.

In 2019, Airlink carried more than two million customers on over 63 000 flights. Currently, its

network includes more than 45 destinations in 12 African countries and St Helena Island.

As important, especially in today’s uncertain times, is that Airlink is a resilient, privatelyowned regional airline that operates in a challenging industry – just like the sunbird species are resistant to changes in habitat.

Punctual and premium Airlink is especially popular with travellers who expect airlines to go the extra mile.

Priding ourselves on offering passengers various value-adds, the benefits start before they board an Airlink flight. Complimentary checked-in luggage allowance include 20kg for Economy Class, 30kg Business Class and 15kg Sporting Equipment Allowance.

Passengers also have the option of an intracontinental styled business class experience on select routes and flights. Our in-flight experience includes complimentary on-board catering with a choice of beverages, and passengers can choose between a window or aisle seat, as there are no middle seats.

Furthermore, Airlink has been ranked as SA’s most punctual airline, based on its 97,70% average on-time performance for the year to date, according to ACSA. On-time performance is crucial for those who rely on Airlink for business and leisure travel, including those connecting with our expanding list of long-haul partner airlines. To be classified as ‘on time’, departures and arrivals have to occur within 15 minutes of Airlink’s published schedule. This performance is a testament of Airlink’s laser focus on providing excellent, reliable service and the dedication of Airlink’s

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employees, both on the ground and in the sky, as well as our partners and services providers.

To ensure customers experience the ultimate in convenience and comfort, Airlink’s 450 flight deck and cabin crews are trained in Airlink’s own state-of-the-art Flight Training Centre, which includes three aircraft simulators, cabin trainers, and other procedural aids and training rooms. Combined with our aircraft’s spacious seating, generous legroom, and complimentary catering, it is understandable that Airlink is well known for its customer centricity and hospitality.

If effortless travel experiences are important to you as a traveller, connect with Airlink. With us, you can experience the freedom of the African sky. Book your flight on flyairlink.com, the FlyAirlink app, or contact your favourite booking agent to begin your journey with us.

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PROF IL E: CL ICKS

GROWING LOCAL Clicks has placed a strong emphasis on local small- and medium-sized business development. Its new supplier-listing portal will continue this trend of helping each other to grow, writes RODNEY WEIDEMANN

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timulating the South African economy requires effort from both the public and private sectors. It is recognised that perhaps the single biggest method of growing the economy is through the stimulation of the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector.

As a proudly South African company, Clicks not only understands the importance of supporting local small businesses and products, but also views it as part of its responsibility to ensure that as the company grows, so does society.

Clicks Group corporate affairs director Bertina Engelbrecht says that Clicks is continuously driving support for SMEs to help them unlock their full potential while putting local SME products on the shelves.

“We recognise that SME development is critical to creating jobs and building a healthier economy. This is why Clicks invested over R500-million in SME suppliers in the past year.

Once an SME is listed with Clicks, we provide support through supply chain, operational, finance and business experience, as well as sales and advertising assistance,” she says.

“The new SME supplier-listing portal is designed to make it much easier for potential suppliers to contact Clicks and also to understand what we require before we can start to do business with them. The portal allows Clicks to manage the new supplier process more efficiently and ensures that we don’t let any potential suppliers slip through the net.”

Engelbrecht notes that the portal’s success can be seen in the September to June purchases from SMEs, which have grown by 33 per cent compared to last year – well ahead of Clicks’ 20 per cent growth target.

“Clicks is predominantly a health and beauty retailer, which means we are looking for products that are relevant to our customers in these core categories. Opportunities for SMEs exist in the small electrical space, cotton towels and face cloths, baby clothing and accessories categories, to name a few.”

BOOSTING LOCAL SOURCING Engelbrecht explains that the Clicks Group is working closely with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition to accelerate local procurement and procurement from blackand women-owned enterprises.

“We engage with government to identify potential SMEs that might be relevant as future suppliers. We also look for and evaluate any opportunities for existing Clicks SME suppliers to benefit from the various government funding and support vehicles. One of our other projects is to localise the production of key lines for Clicks, rather than importing these.

We are working closely with government and the Black Industrialists Forum to source local suppliers that can meet our quality and pricing requirements.”

She says that Clicks has grown its local sourcing of Clicks Private Label products by more than 24 per cent this year, from Level 1 to Level 4 B-BBEE businesses.

These are products that typically would have been imported.

“Our Private Label team works very closely with these suppliers to design the products, agree on the product specifications and launch them on the Clicks shelves. We then support these products through strong marketing campaigns – all of which benefit these local businesses.”

Since January 2021, Clicks has helped bring six new black-owned suppliers in the hair

Bennie Engelbrecht

LOCAL BRANDS THAT CLICK Clicks Group corporate affairs director Bertina Engelbrecht says it has been extremely rewarding to see local brands become established, successful brands in the local market.

These include AfroBotanics, AfriBerry and Portia M. Clicks has also recently launched the following brands: • Dermacell • Nilotiqa • Native Child • Masodi • African Essence • Inzpire Health products • Oratile Kids Each of these brands receives marketing support from Clicks as part of its enterprise development programme.

“With our new small and medium enterprise (SME) portal, we believe that we could seamlessly onboard as many as 20 SMEs annually, although we aspire to achieve a much higher number.”

and personal care sectors to market, including Masodi Organics’ range of natural hair and body products and AfroBotanics’ new multicultural hair range, Kaio.

“A further twelve suppliers are planned for launch by the end of 2021. This is over and above the existing eight black-owned SMEs that are currently listed in these categories.”

“We can all do a lot to revive and renew the SME sector. Our message to both public and private sectors is that we are demonstrating that we are more than willing to both talk and walk the walk,” she concludes.

“WE RECOGNISE THAT SME DEVELOPMENT IS CRITICAL TO CREATING JOBS AND BUILDING A HEALTHIER ECONOMY. THIS IS WHY CLICKS INVESTED OVER R500-MILLION IN SME SUPPLIERS IN THE PAST YEAR.” – BERTINA Engelbrecht, CLICKS Bertina Engelbrecht

MADE IN SA

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PROF IL ES

HOMEGROWN PIONEERS Local companies, Fry’s Family Food Co and Ultimate Sports Nutrition, have become global pioneers in their respective industries.

THANDO PATO finds out the secrets to their success

SPORTS NUTRITION BRAND GOES GLOBAL The world of sports supplements has always been competitive, says Albe Geldenhuys, founder and CEO of Ultimate Sports Nutrition (USN), but what sets his brand apart is the constant innovation in its product offering.

“USN is at the forefront of innovation and as a result, our products are copied by other brands; we have seen it in South Africa and England,” he says.

In 1999, Geldenhuys saw a gap in the local market for supplements for sports and health enthusiasts who weren’t bodybuilders. “I have always been a health and fitness fanatic and was interested in sports supplements. I did a lot of research into the topic and then put together a formula at home,” he explains.

At the time, creatine was all the rage and Geldenhuys used an old Sputnik washing machine to combine ingredients. He sold his initial consignments to friends and as interest grew through word of mouth, he began supplying gyms, independent pharmacies, small health shops and then retail chains.

Geldenhuys reflects on his business turnover in the first few months of 2000. “In January, our turnover was R20 000, in April it grew to R160 000, and in May it peaked at R300 000,” he says. Today, USN has an annual turnover of R1.5-billion and is sold in over 100 countries.

Geldenhuys, a former forensic police artist, had no business experience before starting the brand and has learnt on the job. He says

“I ALWAYS KNEW WE WOULD HAVE TO EXPAND INTO OTHER MARKETS; THAT HAS COME WITH ITS OWN CHALLENGES. WE HAD TO ADAPT QUICKLY AND UNDERSTAND BUYING BEHAVIOURS, NEW BUSINESS LANGUAGES AND WHAT PRODUCTS WORKED IN EACH REGION.” – ALBE GELDENHUYS, USN

Albe Geldenhuys

exporting the brand has been one of his biggest learning curves.

“When I started, I always knew we would have to expand into other markets; that has come with its own challenges. We had to adapt quickly and understand buying behaviours, new business languages and what products worked in each region. This meant listening to our suppliers and the guys in the trade. But South Africans are problem-solvers, so it was nothing we couldn’t overcome.”

THE PLANT-BASED FOOD PIONEERS

environment- and people-friendly, plenty of research went into the ingredients to ensure not only a delicious alternative, but a healthy one too.

Their product line-up began with sausages, burgers and hot dogs, which were first sampled by friends before being introduced to a retailer. Now their range covers almost every meat alternative.

“Our products are Wally and Debbie Fry important for people who are exploring plant-based eating and who are seeking easy, convenient ways to The Big Fry Burger transition from an animal-based diet.”

The brand is now available in several countries worldwide, however, global footprint, Fry’s Family Food Co has the production and operations and joined the LIVEKINDLY Collective. administrative teams of about 500 people “The changes that have come from are still based in Durban. Last financial joining the LIVEKINDLY Collective have year, the company produced approximately all been about scale. We decided to 6 000 tonnes of produce. To drive their partner with them because we could see that for Fry’s to remain relevant in such a growing and competitive category, we had to be able to scale up and ramp up our innovation. And we needed investment and WALLY AND DEBBIE FRY, FRY’S FAMILY FOOD CO expertise to do that,” the pair conclude.

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“OUR PRODUCTS ARE IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPLORING PLANT-BASED EATING AND WHO ARE SEEKING EASY, CONVENIENT WAYS TO TRANSITION FROM AN ANIMAL-BASED DIET.” –

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This September, Durban-based Fry’s Family Food Co – part of the LIVEKINDLY Collective – celebrated its 30th anniversary.

Founded in 1991 by Wally and Debbie Fry, Fry’s Family Food Co was one of the first manufacturers of plant-based meat replacement food products in South Africa.

“Globally, we are seeing a radical rise in the number of brands and innovations.

It’s incredibly exciting, and exactly what we have hoped for. Our principle of less meat on plates has only been helped by the growth of the category. The more choice there is for consumers, the more money is spent on research and innovation – and the better it will be for the animals and the planet,” they say.

The couple was motivated to start their business by the need to cater for their vegetarian family, who were looking for a satisfying alternative to meat. Starting in their home kitchen, Wally began to experiment, creating meat replacements that were not genetically modified. With a strong focus on food that was animal-,

MADE IN SA

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2021/10/05 4:13 PM

SAMIL PRODUCTS PROVIDE PEACE OF MIND FOR CONSUMERS SAMIL is now RMS-certified, providing buyers with a guarantee that the goods they purchase are responsibly sourced and have not harmed the environment.

“The need to hold a RMS certification is driven by the new environmentally consciousness consumer” Micheal J. Brosnahan - CEO of Samil Natural Fibres

NATURAL FIBRES (Pty) Ltd.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: +27 (0) 41 486 2433 yarns@samil.co.za | sales@samil.co.za www.samil.co.za

Our Local Hairoes at The Clicks Group is developing and supporting suppliers who are passionate about their brands and keen to grow, create jobs and contribute towards a thriving economy. Here’s a spotlight on three local brands owned by women and listed at Clicks.

AFRI BERRY An organic repair skin and hair company, Afri Berry was founded by Relebohile Moeng after a car accident left her with over 150 stitches on her face. Determined to find an affordable solution to reduce the appearance of her scars, she discovered that cold-pressed argan oil yielded the best results and thus the business was born in 2011. In 2020, Afri Berry was available in Clicks stores.

The company has won many awards, including Best Innovative Brand and Beauty Entrepreneur of the Year.

NATIVE CHILD A self-taught hairstylist, Sonto Pooe established Native Child to dispel the myth that natural hair does not grow.

“I was tired of being encouraged to look a certain way, when I actually preferred my hair texture in its natural state,” she says. Native Child’s hair and body range, which is responsibly sourced and ethically created is now found at Clicks stores.

Relebohile Moeng

Ntombenhle Khathwane

“We are living proof that small black women-owned brands can succeed and perform well”

Sonto Pooe

AFROBOTANICS Afrobotanics was launched by Ntombenhle Khathwane and has been stocked at Clicks for more than five years. Using celebrities like Pearl Thusi to promote her brand amplified its visibility. On building her business she says, “The road to retail is hard and challenging. It’s easy to over-promise just to get listed, and then fail to deliver. It’s a difficult road, but it’s been the most exciting and the most fulfilling journey and we are living proof that small black women-owned brands can succeed and perform well.”

Inspires Hope SMME development is critical to creating jobs and building a healthier economy. “This is why Clicks has invested over R500-million in SMME suppliers in the past year, says Clicks Group CEO Bertina Engelbrecht. Here’s a spotlight on two South African brands you can find inside Clicks.

KHAYELITSHA COOKIES In 2007, a hunger to do more with her life led Adri Williams to leave the security of her corporate job to work for Khayelitsha Cookies, a handmade artisanal cookie company that was in debt and in grave danger of going under. She bought the business for R1 and began the process of turning it around. “This was an opportunity that could provide more women with jobs, and somehow I just knew that this was now my purpose in life,” says Adri.

PORTIA M Portia Mngomezulu is a qualified IT systems engineer whose entrepreneurial spirit was ignited when she stumbled across the remarkable benefits of marula oil. Today, it’s the basic ingredient in her skincare line. Portia started out manufacturing her first products in her garage using a two-plate stove, a cake mixer and a “paraffin funnel” to fill containers. Eventually skincare buyers took notice, and after jumping some hurdles, Portia M was lining the shelves of major retailers, including Clicks. “I’ve managed to put a positive spin on the criticism I have received and look at it as a learning curve. I know one day Portia M will be a global brand,” says Portia.

“This was an opportunity that could provide more women with jobs, and somehow I just knew that this was now my purpose in life.”

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Igniting Young Minds The Clicks Group is helping to plant the seeds of sustainability and entrepreneurship in the youth to secure and build a healthier future.

Whitney Houston said it best when she sang, “I believe the children are our future, teach them well and let them lead the way.”

Primestars, a company specialising in youth development programmes for high school learners in underserved communities has been championing the cause since 2014.

The Clicks group has partnered with Primestars in its Step Up 2 A Green Start Up National Youth Green Entrepreneurship Programme. With this partnership, Clicks aims to create greater awareness of responsible consumption among the youth and equip them with the necessary skills and mindsets to become ecopreneurs for a sustainable future. “Primestars is extremely passionate about this programme, and we are honoured to have sponsors on board that share the same passion for the programme and the potential it holds in offering young South Africans a better future,” says Martin Sweet, managing director of Primestars.

The programme teaches learners to prioritise people and the planet over profit alone Step Up 2 a Green Start Up is designed to help young people move from a fixed mind-set (that of a job-seeker) to a growth mind-set (becoming a job-creator). It also encourages them to see environmental challenges as new business opportunities. For example, helping them shift from making disposable products to producing reusable goods; using technology; encouraging critical and creative thinking; and teaching learners to prioritise people and the planet over profit alone. The learning and development programme culminates with The National Youth Awards, where the best young entrepreneurs and green innovators will be recognised with bursaries, incubation, funding, resources and other support.

Visit www.primestars.co.za for more information.

taking you

places

CONNECTING FAMILIES & FRIENDS

Trans African Concessions, manages the N4 Route From Tshwane to Maputo.

As the concessionaire of this magnificent route, our vision is to connect countries, communities and cultures quickly, conveniently and safely in a responsible, holistically sustainable way.

0800 87 22 64 (SA) 800 9022 (MOZ)

S OU T H A F RICA N F IRS T S

TESTING …

ONE, TWO, THREE

ShopriteX – Checkers Rush

South Africa is not only a country with many great local companies and products, but it is also a leader when it comes to testing new technologies and trialling new crops, discovers BETH AMATO

CASHIERLESS SHOPPING

Autumn crocus flower with saffron.

A saffron field.

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A SWEET FIRST SAFFRON SEASON Saffron, known as red gold, is the most expensive and coveted spice in the world. It tastes sweet and slightly earthy. It adds depth to dishes like Spanish paella and tachin (a crispy, baked Persian rice). In spice shops, saffron is stored in a safe place, usually behind the cashier’s counter, and distributed sparingly to customers. Saffron comes in thin red threads and is a popular ingredient in Middle Eastern cooking.

Harvesting saffron is labour-intensive and produces low yields. The spice is the stigma of the autumn crocus flower, with only three “threads” produced in a growth cycle. It takes 80 000 whole flowers to produce about 500 grams of saffron. Just a pinch of saffron is the yield of seven crocus flowers.

Bennie Engelbrecht, a traditional farmer from the Free State, spotted an opportunity to grow the autumn crocus flower in South Africa. He established a growing operation and business, Saffricon, between Calvinia and Williston in the Northern Cape, which has the ideal arid conditions for cultivating the autumn crocus.

Engelbrecht says that 2021 was the first growing season in South Africa and yield was much better than expected.

“The season exceeded our expectations, with most farmers producing successful crops.

This bodes well for next season’s harvests and the growth of the industry,” he says.

“WE ARE NOW GROWING SAFFRON IN ALL NINE PROVINCES, AND SURPRISINGLY, THERE HAS BEEN A 95 PER CENT SUCCESS RATE.” – BENNIE ENGELBRECHT, SAFFRICON Currently Saffricon has sold 173 “starter packs” to farmers. A starter pack is R15 000 and includes seven kilograms of saffron corms. A 20-metre square growing space is recommended, specifically in the trial stage.

“We are now growing saffron in all nine provinces, and surprisingly, there has been a 95 per cent success rate. There have been some challenges, but year one’s harvest yielded more flowers than initially expected,” says Engelbrecht.

Saffricon hopes to partner with various buyers in the Middle East to purchase the saffron grown on South African soil. The product will do well as an export item because the global demand for saffron is much greater than its annual supply. Iran currently leads the world’s production output with India and Greece coming in second and third.

“South Africa has the potential to become one of the world’s top saffron suppliers, and we are working towards ISO classification so that we can regulate the product to ensure superior quality,” concludes Engelbrecht.

Imagine grocery shopping and every item you put in your trolley is scanned and paid for by you in real-time, using your mobile device? No standing in queues or taking things in and out of the trolley to pay. It is a possibility if the store has artificial intelligence camera technology to scan your products and then automatically charge them to your bank card.

Checkers is piloting the first cashierless grocery shop in South Africa as part of its digital innovation strategy. The aptly named pilot store, Checkers Rush, is located next to the Shoprite head offices in Cape Town; and the company’s employees are the guinea pigs. Hundreds of hours of test footage are still required to perfect and “train” the algorithms, but once the concept moves out of its experimentation phase, a store will be opened to the public.

Checkers’ overall digital innovation unit, known as ShopriteX, employs 250 people including data science, e-commerce and personalisation experts. “Shoprite to the power of X represents the exponential growth opportunity when you combine the best of data, technology and talent with the scale of the Shoprite Group,” says Neil Schreuder, chief of strategy and innovation.

Schreuder adds that the launch of Checkers Rush is part of the group’s strategy to grow its ecosystem of value for consumers and to monetise new and diverse revenue streams.

Pieter Engelbrecht, CEO of the Shoprite Group, notes that “we are serious about being Africa’s most customer-centric retailer, and our investment is in fit-for-the-future precision retail, which is increasingly digital and data-led.”

“WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT BEING AFRICA’S MOST CUSTOMER-CENTRIC RETAILER, AND OUR INVESTMENT IS IN FIT-FOR-THE-FUTURE PRECISION RETAIL.” – PIETER ENGELBRECHT, SHOPRITE GROUP MADE IN SA

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EXTRAORDINARY SUCCESS South Africa has produced some extraordinary success stories over the years.

BETH AMATO takes a look at some unique examples

SPRINGHARE HOPS BETTER THAN AUSTRALIA’S KANGAROOS Who would have thought that a tiny, 40cm tall bipedal rodent would have faster hopping and acceleration abilities than the famous and much larger kangaroo? The springhare, which is about the size of a rabbit, is indigenous to Africa and has long been considered merely a mini version of Australia’s main hopper.

A study led by Dr Ned Snelling at the University of Pretoria’s Department of Anatomy and Physiology (which included colleagues from Harvard, Idaho and Wits universities), assessed the muscle-tendon design of the hind limbs of springhares and compared it against 16 species of Australian hoppers.

“In the battle of the hoppers,” says Snelling, “it’s South Africa 1 and Australia 0. We have long known that springhares are a type

of rodent, but we didn’t know, until now, that springhares can claim hopping prowess over Australia’s rat-kangaroos, wallabies, and kangaroos.”

The significance of this finding is multiple.

It means springhares can outpace and outmanoeuvre much larger predators. The springhare’s hind limbs have much thicker tendons, relatively, when compared to similarly-sized Australian hoppers. These large tendons are better at rapidly transferring forces and thus facilitate fast and accelerative hopping.

Snelling says that “intense predation pressure” probably led to the evolution of these specialised “overbuilt” springhare hind limbs. Now they have a fighting chance against jackals, cheetahs and leopards.

“In fact, even cheetahs, the fastest of the land animals, struggle to catch springhares.

Research has shown that cheetahs have the

Springhare

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Inside of a tendon of a springhare.

“WE DIDN’T KNOW, UNTIL NOW, THAT SPRINGHARES CAN CLAIM HOPPING PROWESS OVER AUSTRALIA’S RAT-KANGAROOS, WALLABIES, AND KANGAROOS.” – DR NED SNELLING, UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA

INDEPENDENT HORROR FILM WINS THREE INTERNATIONAL AWARDS South Africa’s latest folk-horror story, 8, will have you hiding under your duvet, especially when the insatiable demon girl character shrugs out of the duffel bag that main character Lazarus carries around. This bold film is stylistically beautiful, drawing on the rich folk symbolism of indigenous South African culture. The film is shot in an old manor house outside Knysna with the nearby forests adding a moody, ghostly element. The characters are unpredictable and complex too.

The film has gone on to win multiple local and international awards, scoring 73 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes (under its international name, The Soul Collector).

Producer Jac Williams says that after Man Makes a Picture (the production studio where he works and which produced 8) made The Recce – a war drama on Showmax – the company wanted something to give them “more legs internationally”. The horror genre,

lowest hunting success rates when pursuing springhares in the southern Kalahari,” he says.

Scientists may now understand the factors that led to the evolution of hopping in different groups of mammals.

“When you think about it, hopping is a very weird way to get around. It appears clumsy.

However, this research on springhares shows that hopping, especially when undertaken using large force-transferring tendons, can provide a big advantage in terms of fast and accelerative locomotion. People have also always thought that hopping is quite unpredictable. Now we know that the springhare can rapidly change direction,” says Snelling.

Lazarus

notes Williams, is popular overseas and such movies are not expensive to make.

The world premiere of the film was at the Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal in 2019. “The international reception was overwhelmingly positive.

Indeed, our two screenings were sold out,” says Williams. So far, 8 has won 24 international awards, including the best feature film at the British Horror Film Festival in London and at the Seattle

International Film Festival. Lead actor Tshamano Sebe has also scooped up numerous Best Actor accolades. The film did particularly well at the Fright Night Horror Film Festival in Los Angeles, winning 12 awards.

The reception in South Africa was Lazarus also encouraging, notes Williams. The production company made a deal with Netflix and 8 became the first South African film to be released on Netflix.

It then became a Netflix original, even though the film was initially produced independently.

“We were a bit worried about the audience reaction initially because of the themes in the film, but we were blown away by the audience response and support. The film did exceptionally well on Netflix and will be running till June 2022. It also trended on Twitter and was number one on the Netflix Top 10 for opening weekend,” Jac Williams says Williams.

MADE IN SA

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A M A ZING F E AT S ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORY UNVEILED AS NATIONAL HERITAGE SITE There has been rapid development of the study of the sky, with its interesting and mystical stars, planets and space matter, in South Africa.

Indeed, South Africa is a leader on the African continent with the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) being one of the largest optical telescopes in the world, and the MeerKAT, which is the most powerful radio telescope in the world. Furthermore, South Africa will host the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), one of the biggest global astronomy projects ever undertaken.

“The country’s astronomical advantages include its geographic location in the southern hemisphere with access to the dark southern skies and radio-quiet zones, incredible governmental support and previous infrastructure investment,” says Dr Daniel Cunnama, science engagement astronomer at the SA Astronomical Observatory (SAAO).

At the centre of all this activity is the SAAO, the oldest scientific institution (it recently celebrated 200 years) in South

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THE MAPUTO TO SA CORRIDOR The N4 Toll Route is the catalyst for trade and investment between three South African landlocked provinces, Gauteng, Limpopo and Mpumalanga, as well as neighbouring provinces. It is the corridor that links South Africa to international markets through the Maputo Port.

Key upgrades on the N4 include the Belfast-Machado road rehabilitation and upgrade, which is 26 per cent complete; the New Karino Interchange in Mbombela, valued at R390-million and 50 per cent complete; the Emalahleni-Middelburg road rehabilitation and upgrade, due to be completed in March 2022; and the Kaapmuiden to Kaalrug rehabilitation and upgrade, which borders Mozambique.

Solange Soares, communications manager at Trans African Concessions (TRAC), which manages the Maputo to SA corridor, says the road upgrades have boosted development by improving mobility and allowing for higher traffic volumes.

“The N4 Toll Route has not only expanded South Africa’s participation in the global trading arena, but has also fostered regional trade and broadened economic activity between South Africa and Mozambique through the easing of access and reduction in transport costs.

The dominant trade flow is from South Africa to Mozambique, with consumers in Maputo now able to access goods that only used to

Africa, declared a National Heritage Site by the South African Heritage Resources Agency.

“This is a recognition of the incredible achievements of the observatory and their significance over the past two centuries and will ensure the preservation and celebration of this heritage for future generations,” adds Cunnama. To celebrate the observatory’s bicentennial, various events were arranged, including the unveiling of the SAAO as a National Heritage Site, the SAAO 200 Astronomy Symposium, and the SAAO 200 Virtual Astronomy Festival.

“Recognising and celebrating this heritage is an excellent opportunity to further engage with the South African public and share our combined heritage under the umbrella of the stars,” he adds.

Southern African Large Telescope

“THE COUNTRY’S ASTRONOMICAL ADVANTAGES INCLUDE ITS GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE WITH ACCESS TO THE DARK SOUTHERN SKIES AND RADIO-QUIET ZONES, INCREDIBLE GOVERNMENTAL SUPPORT AND PREVIOUS INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT.” – DR DANIEL CUNNAMA, SA ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORY

N4 Toll Route – Pretoria to Maputo

be available in South Africa. The project has also fostered trade among other neighbouring countries, such as Namibia and Botswana since the N4 under TRAC’s management forms part of the Trans Kalahari Road from Walvis Bay to Maputo,” says Soares.

TRAC also manages the N4 toll road on the Mozambican side. The section between Matola and Maputo in Mozambique is the busiest section of the N4, with the Maputo Plaza the busiest plaza in southern Africa.

Meanwhile, there has been an uptick in employment opportunities, especially through the ongoing construction and maintenance of the road. TRAC itself employs over 600 people in South Africa and Mozambique, reaching the job creation target included in the concession contract, says Soares. “Apart from direct employment, hundreds of people are further employed indirectly, notably for the construction and maintenance projects.”

MADE IN SA

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REINVENTED, REJUVENATED AND RELAUNCHED

Plascon looks to a green future as it develops innovative environmentally friendly products

P

lascon has remained one of South Africa’s preferred coatings manufacturer for over 130 years as a result of its ability to continuously reinvent its brand. Furthering its 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.

NO MORE APEO CHEMICALS The first of these innovations is the introduction of APEO-free formulations. Plascon TradePro Roof & More is Africa’s first roof paint that is entirely free of harmful APEO chemicals. APEO compounds are

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PL A S CON A DV ER T ORI A L

bioaccumulative compounds that 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, oceans.

Dr Kevin Winter from the University of Cape Town’s Future Water Organisation says: “APEOs found in freshwater systems are toxic to aquatic organisms. In large doses, APEOs even have the potential to disrupt human hormonal systems. APEOs are discharged into freshwater systems from stormwater runoff and sewage works. They are found in a variety of products including paints, packaging and cleaning agents.”

By choosing to use APEO-free products, you 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 and one way to use water more responsibly – and save money on your monthly municipal bill – 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.

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REDUCING PLASTIC WASTE The plastic pandemic is another large threat to environmental conservation. The mass production of plastics began six decades ago and since then, 8.3 billion tonnes of plastic have been produced – an estimated 90 per cent of this is not recycled – with approximately 8 million tonnes 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 to its premium range, which are made of up to 70 per cent upcycled material.

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

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. needed for the manufacture of new materials.

By upcycling, we not only stop more longwearing pollutants from 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 peace of mind knowing that they’re making the most responsible choice for the environment.

A MOVE TO WATER-BASED PRODUCTS 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, are 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.

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 (volatile organic compounds) 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

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

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 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.

PAINT THAT PURIFIES In 2020, Plascon pioneered a first for the South African market: a 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 you breathe, making your home and workplace a safer environment for you, your co-workers and family. 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 re-engineered 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.

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

These changes affirm Plascon’s re-orientation and refreshed commitment to focus on people and purpose.

➔ Scan this QR code to go directly to the Plascon website.

For more information: www.plascon.com

MADE IN SA

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AFRICAN INVENTIVENESS In a world greatly impacted by COVID-19, and with job losses and unemployment on the rise, South Africa continues to produce creative inventors and entrepreneurs looking to solve social and economic issues. By ITUMELENG MOGAKI

“WE SAW A GAP IN THE MARKET FOR A SMALL solar-energy kiosk THAT CAN PROVIDE BATTERY CHARGING AND WI-FI OPTIONS TO MEET THE EVER-GROWING RELIANCE ON SMARTPHONES AND OTHER ICT DEVICES.” – CANDICE PAULIN, SOLAR TURTLE CONVERTING RECYCLED PLASTIC INTO SAFE OWL HOUSES The Murray family, founders of the Owl Rescue Centre – an owl sanctuary in a rural area of Hartbeespoort in the North West province, is concerned with all aspects of conservation.

Back in 2008, their then six-year-old daughter Rebecca propelled the Murrays to pioneer a plastic recycling drive after watching a programme on what happens to marine life because of discarded plastic straws.

Brendan Murray researched plastic recycling methods and came up with a way for the centre to manufacture its conservation products – owl houses, bat houses and beehives, originally made from wood – out of recycled plastic.

He explains that the plastic bottles are first granulated into a workable product, which is then put through an extruder that melts it for pressing into the

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moulds used to make the various conservation products.

The idea not only provides a solution for massive amounts of plastic waste, but also enables the manufacture of these products from something that could almost last forever.

“Although the wood owl houses work very well, wood deteriorates over time and often needs replacing. These plastic owl houses will still benefit many generations of owls, hundreds of years from now,” he says.

The sanctuary maintains a favourable relationship with traditional media as well as its 80 000 followers on the centre’s social media pages, all of which helps attract benefactors.

“Our latest achievement is to get mobile service provider MTN excited about owl conservation. They have now come on board to help us keep owls safe,” adds Murray.

Solar Turtle Spark Bike

privileged, off-grid and rural communities,” she says.

To date, the company has set up six mobile kiosks in the greater Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipal district.

“We have trained 19 unemployed women and youth in the area and provided them with employment opportunities on a rotational basis to operate or run these kiosks on behalf of Solar Turtle. The response has been phenomenal as we are trading and operating in areas with limited access to electricity. We have even stationed our kiosks at a number of schools in impoverished areas that have limited access to stable grid connections, Wi-Fi or printing services.”

Paulin adds that the response from the students and staff members at these schools has been overwhelming as students can purchase data at less than R5 per gig and access Wi-Fi services.

Owl House

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Solar Turtle Connectivity Kiosk

Understanding the need for alternative electrification services in off-grid areas, Solar Turtle decided to invent a micro solar-energy kiosk for use in rural communities in the Eastern Cape.

Introduced in April 2019, the project’s objective was to design and develop three manoeuvrable and affordable prototypes, with the aim of empowering unemployed women and youth to become entrepreneurs.

“We saw a gap in the market for a small solar-energy kiosk that can provide battery charging and Wi-Fi options to meet the ever-growing reliance on smartphones and other ICT devices,” says Candice Paulin, chief operations officer at Solar Turtle.

“The introduction of our kiosks creates jobs in the green economy, while also offering clean reliable energy and connectivity in less

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MOBILE CONNECTIVITY KIOSK FOR OFF-GRID AREAS

byproduct to remove heavy metals from raw acidic water and make it drinkable.

He then embarked on a project to check its viability as a business and today, his invention is a prototype at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

“The Department of Water and Sanitation has built several acid mine drainage (AMD) treatment plants in the greater Johannesburg area, but their product water does not reach drinking stage. We were able to retrofit our solution into the existing treatment plants to Untreated and treated water samples. reach a viable drinking stage,” says Nkatlo.

The treated drinking water will be produced at a competitive price and sold at a cheaper rate to low-income communities surrounding MAKING CONTAMINATED WATER SAFE the mines, he says. “They FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION can use this treated water Water scarcity in South Africa for drinking, irrigation and gave the founder of BN Aqua agricultural purposes.”

Solutions, Boitumelo Nkatlo, Incubated by The Innovation the idea to take acid mine Hub, Nkatlo’s company is water and process it into gradually growing and he is water that is safe for ready to commercialise his human consumption. invention into an industrial During his tenure as a solution, one which can metallurgist at a gold mine, help address the country’s Nkatlo realised the possibility Boitumelo Nkatlo water problems. of using a metallurgical waste

AFFORDABLE PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS FOR SOUTH AFRICANS Founded in 2021, National Pride is a personal care business that is all about creating cost-effective personal care products for South Africans. The company manufactures and distributes disposable baby diapers and pants, feminine hygiene pads, baby wipes, adult incontinence products and new multipurpose disinfectant wipes with 100 per cent biodegradable active ingredients.

“Our target market is predominantly South Africans who are looking for affordable personal care products that perform as well as the international brands and offer the same features and benefits,” says Murray Booth, marketing executive at National Pride.

He notes that the biggest hurdle is the perception that local products are not as good as the “big brands”.

“However, we find that once people try our products, they realise that they don’t need to pay a premium for the others.”

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INNOVAT ION

National Pride product range

National Pride’s brand stable includes Cuddlers, the first and only South African nappy brand available in all major retailers, Baby Panda, a market leader in Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi, Active Care incontinence products, and Simply Dry sanitary pads.

National Pride employs over 300 South Africans, the majority from Soweto, a community that surrounds their new-generation industrial plant.

“As we are able to offer world-class manufacturing capabilities, National Pride continues to grow, innovate and offer clients competitively priced and reliable products,” concludes Murray.

Umgibe garden

INNOVATIVE VEGETABLE-GROWING SYSTEM FOR SMALL-SCALE FARMERS Nonhlanhla Joye never expected in 2014 that her vegetable-growing system would, one day, support 37 small-scale farmers in rural parts of KwaZulu-Natal.

A cancer survivor, affectionately known as Ma’Joye, she devised a system to protect her vegetable garden from foraging chickens.

Joye’s invention involved suspending recycled plastic bags on wood, creating an agro-ecological tool that provides protection from the chickens. Today, she’s the owner of Umgibe Farming Organics and Training Institute, which employs 12 permanent staff members, 28 casual workers and additional seasonal workers at harvest time.

“Even though the core of our business is the vegetable-growing system, we are working with 159 cooperatives, from small-scale farmers, who we train and develop and help with marketing their produce, to big retail stores, restaurants, hospitals and more. These are crucial stakeholders with whom we continue to build good working relationships,” she explains.

“OUR TARGET MARKET IS PREDOMINANTLY SOUTH AFRICANS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR AFFORDABLE PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS THAT PERFORM AS WELL AS THE INTERNATIONAL BRANDS AND OFFER THE SAME FEATURES AND BENEFITS.” – MURRAY BOOTH, NATIONAL PRIDE

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Valid until 31 March 2022

LOVED, TRUSTED AND

EVER-POPULAR

South Africa is home to several well-known brands that are woven into the fabric of our society, often through catchy advertising campaigns whose jingles and tag lines are embedded in our minds.

CARYN GOOTKIN looks at some of our oldest and most loved brands

BLACK CAT Black Cat Peanut Butter was first produced in Potgietersrus in 1926, under the name Alderton Limited, which was bought by Tiger Oats Company in 1946.

“Over the years, the brand has consistently maintained messaging that reinforces its quality credentials in a fun and light-hearted way,” says Edna Mohale, marketing director: culinary, Black Cat at Tiger Brands. “In 1950, with the launch of Springbok Radio, Black Cat was ready to take its place among the

BLAAUWKLIPPEN

OROS

Blaauwklippen – the oldest wine farm in Stellenbosch – was established by free burgher Gerrit Jansz Visscher (Visser) in 1682. The name Blaauwklippen – meaning blue stones – is said to be derived from the granite found on the farm, which has rich and fertile soils from the grey-blue decomposed granite deposited against the mountain slopes.

“The farm has continuously reinvented itself to be integral to the communities of Stellenbosch, Jamestown and the broader South African wine industry,” says Ben-Carl Havemann, CEO of Blaauwklippen. “Down to earth with a rich history and winemaking tradition, Blaauwklippen continues to produce wines of distinction, in harmony with the simplicity of country living, which is key to the success of the brand.”

The premium Blaauwklippen range of wines has been honed to maintain excellent quality, a characteristic for which the brand has become known.

“We have expanded our range to cater for our consumers’ changing needs and extended that to the brand,” says Havemann. “Our new range of craft gins, for example, puts a fresh spin on our tradition, while offering consumers new ways to experience familiar products. We’ve also kept the brand alive and relevant by expanding the legacy to include new ideas and offerings to cater for families, events and outdoor enthusiasts in addition to the traditional wine lovers.”

Established by Charles Brookes in 1899, OROS has been a part of South African lives ever since. “Over time, the tone of brand communication has been endearing and warm,” says Tatum Chetty, brand manager for OROS at Tiger Brands.

“In the early ’90s, OROS created an imaginary world that children could relate to with a jingle that has stood the test of time. The brand then became a cross-generational product with an iconic song with a memorable tune.”

Who can forget the lovable OROS man who rose to popularity in the ’80s, along with the “O… O… O… O… OROS” jingle? “In such a serious world, people need to find a release,” says Chetty. “At OROS we believe that a world of play is a better world, so OROS remains ‘a squeeze of fun’.”

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big brands. The 1980s saw the famous TV commercial, ‘Bully on the Beach’ – who can forget the line ‘Black belt? U-uh. Black Cat’.”

The business continues to invest in the brand. “The latest creative focus is on the ‘energy boost’, encouraging young kids to play more and challenge their imagination through problem-solving,” says Mohale. “Today we have four variants in various pack sizes with peanut content ranging between 91 and 99 per cent – a range to fit every kind of peanut butter lover.”

Oros

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Black Cat Peanut Butter

ICONIC BR A ND S IWISA

IWISA Iwisa No.1 has been part of the South African community since 1956 when it was established

by Premier Milling Company (now called Premier FMCG).

“Iwisa No.1’s success can be attributed to the brand’s ability to capture the hearts and minds of the nation by delivering trusted and quality products that have been at the centre of family moments and delicious meals for

years,” says Premier FMCG’s marketing milling executive, Sibongile Mooko.

“Iwisa No.1 provides nourishing and filling anytime meal solutions, offering both variety and versatility. Whether for breakfast, lunch or dinner, Iwisa No.1 draws people together, giving them a sense of belonging, and ensures everyone is well fed!”

Over the years, the product range has grown to reflect consumers’ evolving needs. “This has been instrumental in the ongoing success of the Iwisa No.1 brand, which now caters for even more meal occasions and still delivers on the original taste. The range now includes the following favourites: Super Maize Meal, Samp, Maize Rice, Braaipap, Instant Maize Porridge and Mageu,” notes Mooko.

“IWISA NO.1 DRAWS PEOPLE TOGETHER, GIVING THEM A SENSE OF BELONGING, AND ENSURES EVERYONE IS WELL FED!” – SIBONGILE MOOKO, PREMIER FMCG

MARKHAM The first Markham (then called Markhams) store opened in 1873 in Adderley Street, Cape Town, with Eloff Street in Johannesburg following a couple of years later.

“The Foschini Group acquired the brand in 1968 and expanded it to the more than 360 stores (in South Africa and Africa) and strong online presence the brand now enjoys,” says Nicol Rademeyer, head of marketing for Markham. “We’re loved and trusted for our promise of fashion and quality. We stay in touch with our consumers’ styles and keep evolving beyond our traditional roots as a men’s tailoring store.”

In 2004, the brand was repositioned as Markham. “Our strength lies in the fact that we offer the complete men’s lifestyle suite,

OLD MUTUAL

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Founded in South Africa by John Fairbairn in 1845, Old Mutual celebrates 176 years as one of South Africa’s – and Africa’s – most iconic brands in 2021.

“Old Mutual’s success is attributed to our long-term view and sound understanding that change, challenge and opportunity are the only constants,” says Mosala Phillips, chief marketing officer at Old Mutual. “We know that life is always changing for our customers, staff and the communities that we serve, but the things that matter most in life – hope, security and family – never will.”

Old Mutual has supported individuals, businesses and communities through civil wars, the Spanish Flu pandemic, economic and political turbulence, and now COVID-19.

Singer sawing machine Markham

partnering with them on their journey first as a student, then a young career professional and then a trendy dad,” says Rademeyer. “We are there for every special touchpoint or occasion on their journey through life – you could say we are their trusted fashion partner.”

“Throughout these years, Old Mutual’s support of those it served was unwavering,” says Phillips.

“Ultimately, our brand value is the result of the trust that customers place in us and the employees who deliver on our promises. The key to Old Mutual’s success is being resolute on our purpose of championing mutually positive futures every day.”

Old Mutual

“OUR BRAND VALUE IS THE RESULT OF THE TRUST THAT CUSTOMERS PLACE IN US AND THE EMPLOYEES WHO DELIVER ON OUR PROMISES.” – MOSALA PHILLIPS, OLD MUTUAL

SINGER SEWING MACHINES Although originally established in the United States as far back as 1851, the Singer brand became entrenched in South Africa through aggressive door-to-door sales, offering machines on credit, a novel marketing strategy for the time.

“When the Singer Company eventually disinvested from South Africa in protest against the apartheid regime, Joe Szokola, a Hungarian refugee who started selling Singer Sewing Machines in 1962, was tasked with selling off the stores,” says Grant Mills, director of SZ Sewing Machines.

“A cunning entrepreneur, Szokola saw the brand’s worth and bought two stores for himself, establishing SZ Sewing Machines in the latter part of 1975. He worked tirelessly and passionately to become the official Singer distributor for Southern Africa.”

The secret to the success of the brand in South Africa is that the company still adopts the basic principles that originally drove Singer to success.

“The brand continues to remain foremost in the minds of South African garment manufacturers as a result of the partnerships Szokola forged with fabric houses, wholesalers and retailers to display the Singer brand logo in their windows, and the brand’s ability to constantly adapt to emerging technology.”

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SUCCES S S T ORIES

FROM LOCAL TO GLOBAL South Africa has more than its fair share of indigenous businesses that have made a splash internationally. RODNEY WEIDEMANN looks at a few success stories

“IN THE MID-’80S WE BEGAN EXPORTING INTERNATIONALLY, AND BY THE ’90S, WE WERE ACQUIRING ASSETS IN EUROPE AND THE UNITED STATES. TODAY, YOU COULD ALMOST DESCRIBE US AS A ‘SILENT GIANT’ WITH ASSETS ON THREE CONTINENTS.” – DR TRACY WESSELS, SAPPI

“Growth at this time was slow – initially, we only serviced Pretoria and its surrounds with large bags of biscuits aimed at the hawker and wholesale market. Slowly, we grew into some of the surrounding provinces, but hit a limit here on this range as the market was increasingly competitive and price-sensitive,” she says.

“After purchasing the Henro Foods brand, we gained access to their retail-focused Marie and Lemon Cream ranges, which we then took to Spar – our first major retail account.

This led us to take on the manufacture of their ‘house brand’ biscuits, which really began opening things up for us.”

Today, she continues, the company has good relations across most of the SADC region and the Indian Ocean Islands, as well as with a South African shop in the United Kingdom.

“Despite our fantastic African growth, we still see big opportunities in South Africa. At the moment, our brand has a 1.7 per cent share of the market, currently dominated by Bakers (60 per cent) and the various retailers’ house brands (20 per cent). So our aim, within this remaining 20 per cent, is to reach 5 per cent within five years. We believe we have the right products and have identified the opportunities – all that’s left is to pursue them,” she concludes.

James Pearce

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do, in a garage. SMSPortal, a hile South African leading messaging specialist products may not and cloud communications always have the platform, was initially launched cachet of something in 2002 by university students from Paris or London, Charles Stretch and James and are less likely to be as Pearce, out of one of their familiar to international customers father’s garages. as those regularly touted by According to Pearce, they Hollywood, the country still has had no grand, billion-rand several companies that have Dr Tracy Wessels plans initially – they were simply translated local prosperity into young entrepreneurs with a global success. unique idea to launch a business to make One of these is Sappi, the company that some extra cash. It was only once the process began 85 years ago as SA Pulp and Paper was underway that they realised the extent of Industries. According to Dr Tracy Wessels: its potential, he explains. general manager of group sustainability “We started by offering a service to and research and development at Sappi, pubs and clubs, but have since grown to the company spent its first half-century encompass aspects as diverse as lead concentrating on domestic growth, acquiring generation, debt collection, banking and additional paper mills and land on which to marketing, which is today undertaken for plant trees. blue-chip organisations, stock exchange “In the mid-’80s we began exporting companies and anyone that has a message internationally, and by the ’90s, we were they need to get out at scale.” acquiring assets in Europe and the United “Once we began to see its real potential, States. Today, you could almost describe us as we kept our heads down, flew under the radar a ‘silent giant’ with assets on three continents. while picking up customers and, when we Not bad for a company that began as a small finally lifted our heads, we found we were the mill making paper from straw,” she says. biggest in Africa. Today, we supply services in “Today, we have a range of additional 130 countries and are focused on growing this products, including a dissolving pulp, even further,” he notes. certain biocomposites and various products composed of lignin and nanocellulose. We are well aware of the danger of climate change NO COOKIE-CUTTER OPERATION so are looking to develop more bio-based For some businesses, this kind of solutions. This is part of our five-year strategy international growth is simply the known as ‘Thrive 25’, which is focused way the cookie crumbles. Adina on building a thriving world that unlocks Smith, marketing manager at renewable resources for the benefit of people, Biscoplus, points out that the communities and the planet.” company was launched by a group of family and friends some 29 years ago as a FROM SMS TO SUCCESS flour mill manufacturing At the opposite end of the scale is a business biscuits for the wholesale that may be worth more than a billion rand trade market. today, but began, as so many success stories

Charles Stretch

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REMOTE SHOPPING

COMES TO THE FORE

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nline retail in South Africa is surging, according to a recent World Wide Worx study, which revealed that the growth for online retail in South Africa in 2020 was 66 per cent, bringing the overall total to R30.2-billion. This has more than doubled from the R14.1-billion reached just two years ago.

This is no surprise to Yaron Assabi, CEO at Digital Mall, one of the pioneers in the local e-commerce space. “When we first launched in the late 1990s, we had great success, given the scarcity of omnichannel commerce platforms at the time. Our success was created through partnerships with some of the leading retail players, including Makro, Ster Kinekor, Look and Listen and Toys R Us, among others,” he says.

“We relaunched Digital Mall in 2020, in a far more advanced e-commerce landscape. Today, we are committed to delivering a safe and comprehensive modern demand-serving omnichannel commerce platform for consumers, while also focusing on enabling small businesses to succeed online.”

South Africa’s e-commerce space has taken time to develop, but digitisation and the ongoing pandemic are driving recent significant growth, writes RODNEY WEIDEMANN

Assabi points out that even global players with a local footprint face challenges in the local market as SA – unlike more developed markets – does not have a mature post office.

“As a local provider, we understand the local challenges and can assist customers through our shared risk model. This doesn’t seek to alleviate the merchants, but to serve them, especially small and medium enterprises (SME).”

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Vikash Singh, managing executive at Clicks, says the company’s e-commerce offering, launched in 2016, now offers a large range of products, including ranges that are found only online.

“We are continuously adding new aspects to serve our customers, such as pharmacy services, our Clicks ClubCard portal, digital vouchers, bill payments and our recently-launched online portal for SME suppliers,” he explains.

Clicks continues to improve by personalising its e-commerce experience further. “Although there are many health and beauty competitors on a global scale, Clicks’ pricing is benchmarked against market competitors to offer customers the best price in the market.

We do this without compromising on product assortment and adhere to the highest quality standards to deliver our ‘feel Vikash Singh good, pay less’ promise.”

“WE ARE CONTINUOUSLY ADDING NEW ASPECTS TO SERVE OUR CUSTOMERS, SUCH AS PHARMACY SERVICES, OUR CLICKS CLUBCARD PORTAL, DIGITAL VOUCHERS, BILL PAYMENTS AND OUR RECENTLY-LAUNCHED ONLINE PORTAL FOR SME SUPPLIERS.” – VIKASH SINGH, CLICKS

E-COMMERCE EXPANDS TO QUICK SERVICE RESTAURANTS he realm of e-commerce has also expanded to encompass the quick service restaurant (QSR) category, with KFC launching its e-commerce offering via third party aggregators in 2017.

Nicholas Duminy, digital and e-commerce director KFC South Africa, says digital acceleration, broadening e-commerce reach and investing in new channels are all strategic focuses.

“We recently expanded our e-commerce offering by introducing WhatsApp chat-ordering, a first of its kind in the South African QSR sector. COVID-19 accelerated channel transformation, both in terms of building capability in core areas within the organisation and launching and optimising online touchpoints to increase Nicholas share in a rapidly growing channel,” Duminy he says.

E-COMMERCE

“For large parts of 2020, the delivery channel was the only sales layer available to customers, therefore our ability to scale and deliver world-class customer experience was imperative. Over the severe lockdown periods, channel growth was exponential, and resource and focus were shifted rapidly to support this growth.”

He believes that while there are barriers to exponential e-commerce growth in South Africa in the short term, we are approaching a tipping point where we will witness widespread adoption within three to five years.

“Today, it is all about customer-centricity and convenience. This will continue to set the tone for successful e-commerce strategies. I believe the food and beverage category will continue to lead e-commerce growth and, in doing so, build capability and capacity to make delivery services and turnkey e-commerce solutions more accessible to SMEs,” concludes Duminy.

GUIDELINES FOR COLLABORATION NICHE PLAYERS DOING IT RIGHT • Just Like Papa: specialises in curated collections of high-end, authentic, trusted and durable adventure products, from GPS devices to cooler boxes and knives.

• Liquor.co.za: allows you to do all your liquor shopping – including premium, craft and seldom-seen brands – in one place with delivery to your door.

• Faithful to Nature: a health and wellness site offering a wide range of food and household products is the first major retailer to roll out carbon-neutral deliveries.

• UCook: creates packages complete with prechopped ingredients and an easy-to-follow recipe – the answer for those short on time or cooking skills.

• Yuppiechef: continues to innovate. It has flipped the script, launching a physical retail store that features integration between digital and brick-and-mortar.

ONLINE RETAIL IN SOUTH AFRICA 2021

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EPICURE A N DEL IGH T S

ONLY IN SA Cass Abrahams

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ravellers like to connect and communicate with locals by trying traditional tastes. That’s the theory anyway, but, as with other kinds of connection, there can be crossed lines. Some of South Africa’s favourite foods inadvertently frighten foreigners.

How do they know that the tomato and chutney-based condiment we call “monkey gland sauce” does not contain pieces of primate? Or that KwaZulu-Natal’s Indian diaspora signature street food, bunny chow, is generally a bread bowl filled with lamb or bean curry and never includes any of Peter Rabbit’s friends and relations.

Other unique South African edible offerings are not so much frightening as confusing.

Everywhere else in the world the word “Gatsby” conjures up images of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, but on the Cape Flats, it is a bisected, long loaf stuffed with various combinations of meat, melted cheese, fried eggs, hot chips and pickled chillies.

Talking of travelling, homesickness in South Africans abroad can be triggered by memories Gatsby

Bunny Chow

South African cuisine offers epicurean insights both bitter and sweet, suggests ANNA TRAPIDO of food texture, taste and smell, some of which are regionally and/or ethnically specific. The thought of Karoo lamb lunches followed by the syrup-laden crunch of a koeksister or the silky-smooth custard filling of a milk tart makes many South Africans living overseas miss Mzansi.

Mpumalanga-born taste buds are primed for the generous glossy pleasures of Tsonga-style xigugu peanut paste and the tacky mouth-feel of guxe, okra leaf stew. Sweet, sour, salty slabs of apricot mebos are the quintessential Cape Malay comfort food. Durbanites, meanwhile, find themselves craving the sticky beachfront buzz of masala-sprinkled pineapple pieces, while those with roots in Rustenburg long for the mouth-puckeringly tart fermented sorghum porridge, ting.

WHAT’S IN A NAME? Nothing says South African Sundays in the sun quite like the coriander-laden smoky smell of boerewors on a braai. Regardless of colour, class or creed, the sizzle and smell of our national signature sausage induces a Pavlovian response in patriots from Atteridgeville to Zebedela and beyond.

More than a national dish, South Africans have a national cooking method: braai. Fire sees the various sorts of South Africans serving up the same food. The names might be different, but the methods, ingredients and tastes are strikingly similar. In addition to the “wors”, the starches and sauces are also alike.

Zulu uphuthu and Afrikaner krummelpap are both crumbly textured maize meal. Xhosa amarostile braai grid breads are essentially the same as Afrikaner roosterkoek and similar to Nama askoek. The latter is baked on coals, and the gesture by which cooks dust ash off their bread is immortalised in the !Ikhapara traditional celebratory dance (also known as the rieldans).

Whether diners prefer maize meal or bread, the accompanying tamatiesmoortjie (spicy tomato relish), served by both Afrikaner and Cape Malay cooks, is strikingly similar to the recipe referred to in isiZulu as ushatini and in isiXhosa as ibisto.

An idealist might assume that such culinary common ground would bring people together, but overlap is often marinated in past pain. The history of hertzoggies epitomises how food can become a proxy for wider, social, economic and political problems.

These apricot jam and coconut biscuits were named after JBM Hertzog, Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa from 1924 to 1939. There are two distinct forms of hertzoggie. White Afrikaners Malay serve them unadorned and Cape Hertzogie generally believe that coconut represents the politician’s beard. In Cape Town, there is a two-tone icing-topped version that the doyenne of Cape Malay food, Cass Abrahams, says goes back to when Hertzog was running for election.

“He made two promises. He said Afrikaner he would give white Hertzogie women the vote and make Malay voters equal to whites. When he came to power, he gave votes to white women, but his administration removed the coloured franchise in 1936. Only half the promise was kept, which is why Cape Malay style hertzoggies get covered half with runny brown icing and half pink icing and they call it a twee gevreetjie (hypocrite),” says Abrahams.

As the twee gevreetjie hertzoggies show, ours is an interesting country. If we are to fully understand and enjoy the flavours in our cross-cultural pots, we must engage with our past and present fully.

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Mebos

Boerewors

NOTHING SAYS SOUTH AFRICAN SUNDAYS IN THE SUN QUITE LIKE THE CORIANDER-LADEN SMOKY SMELL OF BOEREWORS ON A BRAAI. 30

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U N I F O R M S

BRANDY MADE RIGHT

T HOUGH T L E A DERSHIP

GOING LOCAL IS NOW A MATTER OF SURVIVAL The pandemic has exposed the dangers of single supplier sources and highlighted the need to produce more locally to negate this challenge, writes EUSTACE MASHIMBYE, CEO of Proudly South African

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side from the obvious health impact of the coronavirus, the spread of the pandemic over the last 18 months has exposed global market vulnerabilities.

In early 2020, the powerful and influential Chinese economy all but shut down.

China is a critical cog in the mechanism of the global economy as both a consumer and producer of a vast range of commodities.

In South Africa, we are acutely aware of the reach of their exports as many of our domestic industries have suffered from the flood of cheap imports from Asia, mostly from China.

Extensive business closures and the restriction of movement imposed on the Chinese made many countries sit up and understand the massive threat that this and any other pandemic poses to supply chains.

Furthermore, in this age of global warming, ecological and natural disasters – which seem to occur with increasing frequency – can shut a country or parts of a country down. These include weather events such as blizzards, tornadoes or hurricanes, and nonweather issues like earthquakes and mudslides that destroy infrastructure and utilities, stalling economies in the process.

Livestock and human-related pandemics can also pose food security threats around the world. Just as COVID-19 tightened its grip on the world, African Swine Fever was having a massive impact on pork production in China.

As a result of the world shortage of pork, consumers turned to poultry meat, but China is also the third-largest producer of poultry and the coronavirus hampered delivery of feed to poultry farmers and slowed down production significantly.

In the pharmaceutical sector, many of the world’s generic drugs are manufactured in

Eustace Mashimbye

GUIDELINES FOR COLLABORATION Prompted by the drive in the government’s Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan for greater levels of localisation and local procurement, the Competition Commission recently published guidelines for collaboration between competitors on localisation. Designed to assist local manufacturers to collaborate without transgressing the Competition Act 89 of 1998, as amended, the guidelines speak to import replacement and capacitating local manufacturers to meet local demand.

China and India, the coronavirus, therefore, posed a threat to the supply of these medicines on which many lives depend.

SPOTLIGHT ON LOCALISATION All this puts the importance of localisation in the spotlight. The local industries mentioned above, namely poultry and pharmaceuticals, face significant threats from imported goods. When a country relies heavily on imports from a single source, they open themselves up to being highly vulnerable to pandemics and natural disasters that can interrupt the supply of a commodity.

However, South Africa does not need to be dependent on imports of poultry or pharmaceuticals – our local manufacturers have the capacity to meet current import levels. South Africa imports around 30 per cent of the poultry it consumes, but local poultry farmers could meet 100 per cent of consumption and create more

WHEN A COUNTRY RELIES HEAVILY ON IMPORTS FROM A SINGLE SOURCE, THEY OPEN THEMSELVES UP TO BEING HIGHLY VULNERABLE TO PANDEMICS AND NATURAL DISASTERS THAT CAN INTERRUPT THE SUPPLY OF A COMMODITY.

WITH GLOBAL TRADE ROUTES AND SUPPLY CHAINS DISRUPTED BY THE CORONAVIRUS, SOUTH AFRICA HAS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW ITS IMPORTS AND WORK ON IMPORT REPLACEMENT STRATEGIES. jobs if this market share, currently in the hands of importers, was back with local producers.

Local pharmaceutical manufacturers, including member companies Aspen and Adcock Ingram, especially the former, have been very vocal in making their case to government, which continues to bypass them and fulfil tenders for public hospitals with imported generic drugs.

Now, with global trade routes and supply chains disrupted by the coronavirus, South Africa has had an opportunity to review its imports and work on import replacement strategies.

Already, the local supply of personal protective equipment (PPE), from cloth masks to medical-grade equipment, has been ramped up to such a point that from importing the larger part of our requirements in the early months of the pandemic we are now self-sufficient in this regard. Production of medical and nonmedical PPE, detergents, disinfectants and sanitisers is creating many jobs and significantly contributing to the economy.

Proudly South African, as the country’s official buy local advocacy campaign, has for the past two years or more been working actively on import replacement and industry/sector-specific localisation commitments. COVID-19 is a global tragedy that has resulted in the loss of millions of lives and livelihoods. It has also exposed the vulnerabilities of markets to single supplier sources, offering opportunities to strengthen domestic capabilities.

Proudly South African and its member companies are working hard to fill gaps left by international products and to ramp up local production to meet new local demands.

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M A NUFAC T URING

A South African company may just have produced one of the fastest and most reliable T1.1 specification race cars in the world.

Red-Lined used its 21 years of racing experience, as well as 10 Dakar participations, to optimise the performance and reliability of the REVO with driver and navigator performance in mind.

RACING TO SUCCESS Privately owned Red-Lined International is driving South Africa’s proud history of designing, building and racing incredibly quick vehicles to global recognition, writes TREVOR CRIGHTON

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yalami-based manufacturer Red-Lined International has conceptualised, designed and purpose-built – from scratch – a vehicle made for competing in the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) World Cup Cross-Country Series and the Dakar Rally.

While many vehicles in the FIA T1 class are based on an existing vehicle chassis, the REVO was built from a clean slate to optimise aerodynamic design. The REVO is built specifically for Class T1.1, the 4x4 petrol-powered class within the T1 category – the top category in Rally Raid racing events.

T1 is the most common class of vehicle entered in the Dakar Rally by professionals and amateurs. The vehicles are generally prototypes that meet FIA technical and safety standards. The bodywork – wrapped around a tubular safety chassis – usually emulates the profile of a production vehicle, but T1 vehicles are specifically designed and developed for competition. Some examples of T1 vehicles that Dakar fans may be familiar with include Nasser Al-Attiyah’s Toyota Hilux, Stéphane Peterhansel’s JCW Buggy and Nani Roma’s Hunter Prodrive.

“Plenty of money and time was invested in putting the car through aero simulation tests to optimise this performance, hence the strikingly different lines of the body,” says Red-Lined International CEO Terence Marsh. “What sets

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it apart is that we could design the body from scratch and didn’t need to follow the design of a traditional truck or bakkie. This allowed us to design the most aerodynamically efficient race car within this discipline of motorsport.”

Red-Lined used its 21 years of racing experience, as well as 10 Dakar participations, to optimise the performance and reliability of the REVO with driver and navigator performance in mind, not to mention ease of maintenance for the technical team.

The FIA-approved REVO is powered by a normally aspirated, mid-mounted third-generation Ford 5.0L V8 engine (commonly seen in the Mustang), cooled by a dual-radiator system. A brand-new six-speed sequential Sadev gearbox – 11kg lighter than the previous generation – driving all four wheels.

Marsh says that the mid-engine setup provides better weight distribution, while the independent rear suspension provides for better handling and, more importantly, more traction. The REVO’s fully independent suspension sets it apart, with 280mm of travel and dual dampers at each corner. To put that into perspective, most road-going vehicles have about 115mm of suspension travel.

A MoTeC M1 electronics system manages the engine’s operation and a water-cooled Powerbrake system helps haul the REVO to a halt. There’s even a reverse camera to help the

driver navigate challenges. It has a 500L fuel tank designed to cover a maximum distance of 800km, which would include both a racing stage and any liaison sections. Marsh says that fuel consumption is 1.5km per litre in a racing stage and 4km per litre in a liaison section. With a dry weight of 1 850kg, the kind of quick-turnaround repairs needed on a vehicle like this in the heat of rally battle are made easier, thanks to an integrated hydraulic jack system.

DESIGNED, MANUFACTURED AND TESTED IN SOUTH AFRICA While some of the vehicle’s components were sourced internationally, the chassis, carbon-composite bodywork, front and rear wishbones, and all fabrication work were designed and built in South Africa, with the path from design to finished product taking 18 months. “At this stage, all our testing has taken place in South Africa, but in the future, we will undertake further hot testing, as well as dune testing, in the UAE,” says Marsh.

Marsh adds that Red-Lined International has, to date, built 42 cars, which are represented in 16 countries across the globe.

“We currently have three models available to the international market, namely the Red-Lined VK50 (a solid axle, front-engine 5.0L V8), Red-Lined VK56 (a solid axle, mid-engine 5.6L V8) and the Red-Lined REVO (our independent mid-engine 5.0L V8),” he says. The company’s vehicles have finished 8 of the 10 Dakar Rallies they competed in, completing 123 of 128 stages.

“Our race cars have finished every World Cup event around the world, as well as the longer Africa Eco Race and the Silkway (Russia) and Taklimakan (China) Rallies.” With one REVO produced so far, Red-Lined has five more on its order book for the future.

Marsh notes that the REVO will make its international debut in October 2021, and he expects it to be one of the fastest and most reliable T1.1 specification race cars in the world.

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The Revo body was designed from a clean sheet of paper and didn’t need to follow the design of a traditional truck or bakkie.

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Plascon has remained South Africa’s preferred coatings manufacturer for over 130 years as a result of its ability to continuously reinvent itself.

At the forefront of innovation, Plascon is at the cutting edge of technological development and continuously revolutionises the paint industry reaffirming their focus on people and purpose.

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

Plascon Cashmere features Triple Action Bead™ technology, a special additive in the paint responsible for the dispersion of light. This technology allows a plush matt finish which is capable of hiding plaster imperfections in the wall while bringing to life warm colours and forming a protective barrier that maintains an absolute matt finish over time, even with regular wiping.

The Paint Pioneer

Plascon Cashmere, Plascon Double Velvet Pure and Plascon Kitchens and Bathrooms, are all formulated with Silver Protect™, silver additives to help keep walls cleaner for longer, improve stain resistance and has also proven effective in reducing mould and algae formation.

Plascon Nuroof Cool has a unique Enviroshield™ formulation with UV protection and infrared reflective technology. The formulation minimises the effect of the sun’s 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, keeping your roof beautiful for years. It also cools the interior of your home by up to 8°C during summer (winter impact of cooling effect is minimised). This can lead to power and cost savings by reducing the need for cooling while also reducing emissions of greenhouse gases due to lower power requirements.

The Plascon premium range also utilises Breatheasy™ technology so that consumers can paint with 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, this means consumers are not only protecting the health of their families, but the environment too.

Leading the field in water-based alternatives to solvent-based enamels, Plascon Velvaglo is prized for its superior strength, satin finish and versatility. Formulated with a unique water-based acrylic hybrid called Aquatough™, Plascon Velvaglo Water-Based offers all the toughness of a solvent-based enamel including UV, flaking and stain resistance, with non-drip properties while remaining environmentally friendly and non-toxic.

In keeping with their commitment to innovation, Plascon has also launched major upgrades to two of their beloved and well renowned brands: Plascon Micatex, now with Polycell Technology, and Plascon Double Velvet Pure, now with Air Purifying Technology.

Plascon Micatex with Weathertough™ 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 Polycell™ Polyfilla Fine Crack Filler which covers hairline cracks and prevents water from entering through the cracks which can cause damp problems, premature colour fading or cracking and peeling of the paint. With twice the film thickness compared to conventional paints, Plascon Micatex also boats mica for stretch and marble for strength.

Plascon pioneered a first for the South African market; a paint with Air Purifying Technology. Plascon Double Velvet Pure has the ability to actively improve the quality of indoor air by removing Formaldyhyde from the air that you breathe, making your home and workspace a safer environment for you, your co-workers and family. A special compound in the formula removes and permanently transforms the formaldehyde in the air into undetectable, harmless water vapour which is safe for breathing.

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For more information get in touch with us on 0860 20 40 60 or www.plascon.com © Kansai Plascon (Pty) Ltd. 2018. All rights reserved. No part of this work may in any form or by any means be reproduced without the prior written permission of the copyright owner. Plascon is the registered trademark of Kansai Plascon (Pty) Ltd.

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Putting South African Industry first should be our main priority in these challenges we currently experience. Our economy cannot achieve our goals if we import most of the products we use. A thriving manufacturing industry creates jobs and business opportunities, enables skills development and improves our competitiveness in global markets.

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