The Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Ms Nomalungelo Gina will officiate the opening of the Lighthouse Footwear and Leather Factory in Stanger, KwaZulu-Natal on 5 April 2023.
This factory has been revamped, through the assistance of the Department of Trade Industry and Competition’s (the dtic) Clothing, Textiles Footwear and Leather Growth Programme (CTFLGP) funding of R 5 million approved in 2022. This incentive is aimed at growing employment, localisation, improving overall competitiveness and advancing the clothing, textiles, footwear, leather and leather goods manufacturing industries.
The incentive is one of the pillars of the Retail-Clothing, Textile, Footwear and Leather (R-CTFL) Master Plan signed between the dtic and key stakeholders in the sector in November 2019. The R-CTFL Master Plan’s long-term vision is to transform the sector with retail commitments into a competitive, sustainable, and dynamic value chain that provides its customers with compelling products and that is invested in growing employment and advancing inclusion.
This sector sustains over 84 000 jobs specifically in CTFL manufacturing. It contributes 3.86% to the South African manufacturing GDP and about 120 000 jobs in the retail portion of the value chain.
Lighthouse Footwear and Leather currently produces shoes for 118 JAM Stores nationally, as well as tailor-made shoes for Pick n Pay, Retailability and Edcon. It also produces iFele, a well-known brand in South Africa that has been exported to Europe as well.
Deputy Minister Gina says government is committed to reviving the sector as it focuses on rebuilding manufacturing, to enable it to expand its capacity.
“Our long term plan is to improve financial returns throughout the value chain to ensure greater levels of investment and job creation. We want to advance management, technical and operator skills and competitiveness. Our plans will not be adequate if we do not prioritise transformation in leadership structures and advancing worker ownership, and advancing inclusion of black-owned businesses in the entire eco-system,” she said.
Enquiries:
Bongani Lukhele – Director: Media Relations
Tel: (012) 394 1643
Mobile: 079 5083 457
WhatsApp: 074 2998 512
E-mail: BLukhele@thedtic.gov.za
Issued by: The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic)
Follow us on Twitter: @the_dti
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