Unlocking growth in South Africa’s footwear and leather sector

Strengthening competitiveness and expanding market access are central to unlocking sustained growth, deepening localization, and creating employment within South Africa’s footwear and leather industry. This was the core message delivered by Alexandra Abrahams, the Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, at the Footwear Retail Buyer Showcase, Networking Dinner, and Targeted Factory Visits held at the Coastlands Hotel in Umhlanga, Durban.

The two-day initiative was hosted by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) in partnership with the South African Footwear and Leather Industries Association (SAFLIA) and the South African Footwear and Leather Export Council (SAFLEC), with support from the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Reflecting on the sector's broader economic landscape, Deputy Minister Abrahams pointed out that South Africa’s primary industrial challenge is not a lack of demand, but rather the urgent need to ensure domestic manufacturers can compete effectively, integrate into supply chains, and sustain growth in an increasingly aggressive global economy. Addressing these challenges, she noted, requires a deliberate shift toward dismantling structural constraints, upgrading production capabilities, and enabling local firms to scale with confidence.

“As government, we must ensure that we create a regulatory environment that allows South African businesses to compete fairly and successfully within both domestic and international markets,” Abrahams stated.

“If we are serious about rebuilding industrial capacity and creating jobs at scale, we must focus on removing unnecessary barriers to business, improving the environment in which manufacturers operate, and backing enterprises that are ready to grow, innovate, and expand.”

Abrahams further stressed that the long-term viability of the footwear and leather sectors hinges on the ability of local firms to withstand global supply chain pressures, boost operational efficiency, and forge tighter links with retail and export markets. “Sustainable industrial growth requires consistent investment in productive capacity, logistics efficiency, skills, and enterprise development. We must ensure that local manufacturers are producing for the domestic market while simultaneously being positioned to compete and succeed beyond our borders,” she added.

Translating these strategic goals into immediate, practical action, the Footwear Retail Buyer Showcase served as a direct commercial bridge. The event brought manufacturers and retail buyers together to facilitate commercial engagement, showcase product ranges, and secure potential sourcing arrangements. These efforts directly align with the South African Retail-Clothing, Textile, Footwear and Leather (R-CTFL) Master Plan 2030, which mandates supplier development and increased local procurement.

The event’s structured, two-day program delivered tangible insights into the sector's readiness. On the opening day, participating manufacturers presented their product lines and production capabilities to invited retailers and sourcing teams, capping the evening with a strategic networking dinner and panel discussion. The following day, selected buyers embarked on targeted factory visits, gaining firsthand insight into the advanced production systems, strict compliance standards, and raw manufacturing capacity of local plants. Together, these engagements successfully solidified commercial relationships, elevated the visibility of domestic producers, and exposed new sourcing pipelines within the footwear value chain.

Underscoring the operational impact of the showcase, Dr. Tebogo Makube, the DTIC’s Acting Deputy Director-General of Sectors, stated that the initiative perfectly demonstrates the shared commitment of public and private stakeholders to revitalize the industry.

“The Footwear Retail Buyer Showcase represents a practical intervention aimed at connecting local manufacturers with market opportunities,” Dr. Makube explained. “Through the R-CTFL Master Plan, government, industry, and organized labour have committed themselves to rebuilding domestic manufacturing capacity, creating jobs, and increasing local procurement. This event provides an important platform for manufacturers to demonstrate their capabilities and for retailers to identify competitive local sourcing opportunities.”

Looking to the future, Dr. Makube concluded that unified value-chain cooperation is the critical linchpin for the industry's survival and evolution. “The future sustainability of the footwear sector depends on stronger collaboration between manufacturers, retailers, development partners, and government institutions. By bringing these stakeholders together, we are creating a resilient ecosystem that actively supports enterprise development, drives competitiveness, secures market access, and guarantees long-term sectoral growth.”