The Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Ms Nomalungelo Gina says government is permanently seized with the important goal of creating more Black Industrialists in the country.
She was speaking at the opening of the Lighthouse Footwear and Leather factory in Stanger, KwaZulu-Natal. The factory has been renovated recently through the assistance of the Department of Trade Industry and Competition’s (the dtic) Clothing, Textiles Footwear and Leather Growth Programme (CTFLGP) funding to the tune of R 5 million.
Deputy Minister Gina says the Lighthouse Footwear and Leather factory is an example of how government is using pillars of the Retail-Clothing, Textile, Footwear and Leather (R-CTFL) Masterplan to create more black industrialists who will help change economic fortunes in the country.
“This is but one of those success stories for black industrialists we are building from the bottom up. With correct strategies and support in place, Lighthouse Footwear and Leather is capable of sustaining itself in the long term. I believe the company is destined for massive growth and modest market share, to compete at the same scale as the big sector players. Commodities such as footwear do not reach the sell-by-date as shoe makers keep on modifying with trends, to gain market relevance at all times,” she said.
She added that the main objective of the Masteplan is to deal with all the challenges that have led to the decline of the sector and put it on the path to growth.
“All signatories to the Masterplan have agreed that there should be an increase in the market share of procurement by 65% from local CTFL manufacturers to raise job creation by 2030. This local procurement share increase will translate into a real increase of R250 billion by 2030. If we succeed in this 65% target by 2030 for both clothing and textile on the one side and, footwear and leather on the other, this will translate into 3 33000 new workers employed in the sector. So one can see that the imports kills local growth and jobs.”
She added it is important that South African consumers are always alert to the call to support locally produced products.
“We have partnered with ProudlySA to promote what we call; “Buy Local” campaigns including marketing the “Made in SA” label. Importantly is a campaign drive to educate South Africans that it is more cool to buy a local brand of clothes and shoes than buying foreign expensive brands. Consciously and intentionally buying locally made products grows the economy, it creates jobs and strengthens industrialisation,” she added.
KwaZulu Natal MEC for Finance Peggy Nkonyeni, with co-owners of Lighthouse Footwear and Leather, Reggie and Gugulethu Xaba and Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Ms Nomalungelo Gina.
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
Share this:
