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CTV News
15-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Humane Society in Erin searching for a forever home
CTV's Jeff Pickel learns why a Humane Society in Erin may be looking for a home of its own. An organization known for finding pets new homes will soon need a new address itself. The Upper Credit Humane Society (UCHS) in the Town of Erin has been leasing municipal property for the last 30 years, but the municipality said they will not be renewing the lease after 2028. The UCHS said they tried to work out a deal with the Town of Erin over the last 18 months, but were told this spring, it wasn't going to happen. 'They basically just came back and said we're going to honor your lease until May 2028 and then we've been directed by council to maximize the value of their property for the taxpayers,' said Susan Thomsen, Chair of the Upper Credit Humane Society. According to Town of Erin Mayor Michael Dehn, the property at the intersection of Trafalgar Road and Highway 25 is not zoned for its current use. 'It's a good thing to have a Humane Society, it's just not necessarily the right location to have,' said Mayor Dehn. Since the zoning for the area is considered 'community space' he said the Humane Society doesn't fit. 'It's not part of our community, they actually do more work for other communities than they do for us. We have a lot of volunteers who work there, but it's not a service that's really provided to our community,' said Mayor Dehn. Dehn said the town will help the organization look for a new home, but it won't be on town-owned land. 'The town really doesn't have much of its own land, we're very limited. What we can do is look at all the properties where there is proper zoning or where zoning can be changed,' said Dehn. In need of a new facility, the UCHS said they have developed plans to transform the property into a true community space. 'We're extremely disappointed in the fact that the town made this decision without allowing us to present our vision for what we think would be a win/win for everybody in terms of using this location as a community hub,' Thomsen said. Thomsen said their plans include an off-leash dog park, public trails and an information kiosk. Dehn said he has seen the plans, but said the private/public partnership is not ideal. 'They don't own the land, so I'm not sure we want to have somebody redevelop something on a piece of town land.' The Upper Credit Humane Society is asking the Town of Erin to host a town hall to address the topic. So far nothing has been planned.
Daily Maverick
09-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Maverick
SA's clothing and textile industry caught between global trade, local development
The industry remains heavily reliant on imports from China. As trade imbalances persist, local manufacturers and circular economy advocates are working to rebuild domestic production capacity. South Africa is dressing itself in imported cloth, and most of it has a 'made in China' label. At the Allfashion Sourcing exhibition in Cape Town's International Convention Centre, local and international players across the clothing and textile value chain were brought together to showcase their products and business ideologies. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads One couldn't help but notice a skewed balance, tilting decidedly east. Of the 142 exhibitors listed on its website, 71 are Chinese companies. From fabric suppliers to accessory makers, China's footprint was everywhere, reinforced by the presence of Chinese diplomats and state-linked industry delegations. That overwhelming presence brings into sharper focus a longstanding trade dynamic in this sector that continues to shape South Africa's local fashion economy. The numbers don't lie In 2024, South Africa exported R19.4-billion worth of textiles, data from The Observatory of Economic Complexity shows. Of that, R4.07-billion went to China. It doesn't seem like a significant slice of the pie, until you look at the inflows – imports in this sector totalled R65.4-billion, and nearly half of that came from China. The result is a trade deficit that makes it clear who is dressing whom. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads This is part of a much larger trend, according to the Institute for Security Studies (ISS). Since 2000, South Africa has sent a staggering R2-trillion more to China than it received in overall exports. In March 2025 alone, the textile trade gap widened again: exports at R2.22-billion, imports at R4.85-billion — and China topped both categories. 'Many of the local producers, they need to import certain components, be it zippers, or buttons, or even highly specialised textiles that are not made in South Africa – (these products) are not made in Africa,' said Michael Dehn, managing director of global trade fair organiser Messe Frankfurt, which hosted the Allfashion trade show. There are parts of the production chain that South Africa doesn't – and can't – make. 'There are only a handful of major manufacturing countries,' Dehn said. 'China is one of them. Of course, you have India, Bangladesh, Turkey and so on, but these are the main suppliers globally.' Tariffs, Trump and Trojan horses Amid the mess of trade imbalances comes a shiny, diplomatic olive branch. China recently announced a zero-tariff policy on all product lines for 53 African nations, including South Africa. Against the backdrop of Trump's most recent tariff tantrum (a 30% duty hike on South African imports to the US), this almost feels like a lifeline. Almost. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads China's pitch is simple: open access, deeper trade and 'more business opportunities and broader market access', as Tang Chang'an, Chinese deputy consul, put it. 'This will play a positive role in promoting the development of the local economy and job creation,' he said. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads Since 2014, South Africa's overall imports from China have been nearly double that of the value exported, writes ISS research consultant Marvellous Ngundu. 'Importing manufactured goods, particularly clothing, electronics and other consumer products, crowds out South African industries.' The Cape Town compromise Faith Kolala, head of investment and trade at the City of Cape Town, acknowledges that the city has a big part to play in revitalising the industry. He reported a concerted drive headed by the city to expand local production, support producers in townships and roll out skills development pathways. 'We are working with industry bodies to ensure that this sector, the clothing and textile sector, thrives in the face of global uncertainty,' he said. Precisely because of the many uniquely South African challenges the industry has faced, like load shedding and import duties, the local clothing and textile industry should be 'comfortable and confident' that it will come out on top, he added. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads 'Cape Town and the wider southern African region are not just nodes of the global supply network any more. We are trusted suppliers, unique design voices and an expanding ecosystem of businesses, township manufacturers, and youth-driven innovation.' Globalisation has forced the clothing and textile sector to think differently about sourcing and collaboration, Kolala said. 'It's not about importing or sourcing, it's about collaboration nowadays,' he said, hinting at South Africa's trade alliance with China. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads The worth of waste Parallel to these global entanglements, innovation is sprouting in unlikely places among South African designers, an example of which can be found in Natasha Pearce, founder of Vivacious Eco Vixon. She has worked in the clothing industry for more than two decades, and instead of importing, she intercepts waste – offcuts, zips, surplus threads – and transforms them into upscale lifestyle products. Pearce is also upskilling communities. Her team, largely women from poverty-stricken areas, learn practical sewing and design skills. She describes her design process with a kind of reverence. 'The fabric speaks to me… I don't design a range based on a trend, I design a range based on the fabrics that I get in.' advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads Her gripe is that waste is an afterthought in this industry and not engineered out from the start. She works with big interior design houses such as Hertex, salvaging sample books and discontinued materials for her products. Green capital and local hands Part of Pearce's work is funded by Nedbank's green economy fund, which supports entrepreneurs who are moving towards circularity, offering concessionary loans and de-risk grants to prove that waste can, in fact, be a business model. 'Partners that we fund have programmes that are designed to educate entrepreneurs around sustainability, secularity and the green economy,' said Maluta Netshaulu, head of the social impact portfolio development at Nedbank. The supply chain also needs people with sewing skills, design sense and line management expertise. Thandeka, a skills training NGO, is stepping in to bridge this gap. The NGO offers a range of learnerships and job placements in the clothing and textile industry. 'It's all about creating jobs in South Africa,' said Heidi Williams-Oelz, customer relationship and marketing manager at Thandeka. 'We want to be able to partner with our retailers and our manufacturers to enable them to bring more onshoring to South Africa.' The demand is there. Brands like Foschini, Levi's and K-Way are already working with South African firms such as Berzacks, known locally as the 'sewing machine people', who equip manufacturers with industrial sewing machinery and products such as thread. 'The next place to be' Chinese companies are looking to further cement their place in the South African value chain. SAB South Africa, a subsidiary of global accessory giant WeiXing, is planting roots in SA, gaining traction with major retailers such as Truworths. Its goal is to bridge the gap between Chinese innovation and South African creativity. Cliff Shen, SAB's sales manager, said that the company wanted to penetrate the South African market because it was 'uncharted territory' and that Africa had a growing economy, which made it 'the next place to be'. China floods South Africa with imports, but it also supplies the materials and components without which local clothing production would grind to a halt. 'The cooperation between China and South Africa is quite close,' Chang'an said. 'We are not necessarily competitors in the textile industry; we could be partners.' In the same breath, he referred to China's 'longstanding advantages' of advanced tech, established industrial chains and strong manufacturing capabilities, comparing it with South Africa's large consumer market, which provided space for the development of the clothing industry. Kolala believes that globalisation has forced us to think differently about sourcing and collaborations. 'We have to take that opportunity and work with competitors as well as collaborators in order to [have a] bigger pie.' DM
The Citizen
28-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
August Festival of Motoring promises thrills at Kyalami
The Festival of Motoring, a premier automotive event, will gather leading car brands, enthusiastic fans, and industry experts at the iconic Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit from August 29 to 31. This eighth edition, powered by WesBank, promises a stimulating showcase of automotive innovation, performance and excellence, embodying the spirit of Ubuntu – 'I am because we are.' Michael Dehn, managing director of Messe Frankfurt South Africa, the event organiser, highlights the festival's core: 'More than just a car show, the Festival of Motoring is about people, passion, and the unifying power of the automotive world. Together with WesBank, we aim to deliver an unforgettable and immersive motoring experience.' Lebo Gaoaketse, head of marketing and communication at WesBank, adds: 'We are proud to continue our partnership with Messe Frankfurt South Africa, sharing a vision to present Africa's definitive automotive event. The festival's success is driven by the collective effort of all involved, from exhibitors to attendees. We look forward to exceeding previous achievements and showcasing the best the automotive industry has to offer.' The impressive line-up of participating brands for 2025 includes VW, VW Commercial, Toyota, GAC, Suzuki, BAIC, GWM, Haval, Ora, Tank, Chery, Mahindra, Isuzu, LDV and Subaru. Over 100 automotive lifestyle exhibitors will also showcase accessories, services and mobility solutions. Attendees can enjoy complimentary hands-on experiences like the self-handling track to test driving skills and the 4×4 Adventure Zone for off-road exploration. For adrenaline seekers, the festival offers exclusive driving sessions featuring the BMW Motorsport Club Series, Simola Hill Climb activations and MasterDrive experiences, available for purchase from mid-May 2025 at special festival rates. A highlight this year is the debut of the Vilaca Racing Ultimate Car and Driver Challenge, a dynamic time attack competition spanning the three days. Motorsport enthusiasts will be thrilled by Formula One-type vehicle demonstration laps and two official rounds of the Sunbet ZX10 Masters Cup Superbikes, showcasing top riders pushing their limits on the track. Santam, a leading short-term insurer, joins as the sponsor of the Premium Suite and Adventure Zone. Nondumiso Mabece, head of brand and marketing at Santam, explains the synergy: 'Sponsoring the Festival of Motoring allows us to connect directly with vehicle owners, a key demographic for insurance. The Adventure Zone and Self-handling Track provide strategic platforms for interactive engagement, highlighting our insurance products and value-added services.' The Adventure Zone will feature activities like Subaru's obstacle course, a mini carnival for all ages (courtesy of Santam), and an upgraded premium hospitality suite. Judy Maharaj, show director of the Festival of Motoring, emphasises the event's significance: 'More than a car showcase, this festival celebrates car buying as a vital step towards a fulfilling life. We commend the exhibitors for their commitment to consumers, embodying the spirit of Ubuntu. The Festival of Motoring is where Africa's automotive passion thrives. Don't miss being part of this movement.' Join Africa's premier motoring celebration! Early bird tickets with discounts are available online until the end of April. Complimentary shuttle services will enhance the visitor experience. Source: QuickPic
