Deloitte thought leadership shapes world stage debates

Cape Town, 3 September 2019 – As a global strategic partner of the World Economic Forum (WEF), Deloitte South Africa will play host to a number of important discussions around issues and opportunities facing the African continent when more than 1000 global leaders meet in Cape Town from 4 – 6 September 2019.   Under the theme, Shaping Inclusive Growth and Shared Futures in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, this year’s WEF Africa summit will bring together leaders from politics, business, civil society and academia.   “The discussions at WEF Africa…

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Cheap fashion comes at high price for local clothing sector

In a shop brimming with rails of high-end clothing brands, shoppers browse through an array of international labels selling at massively discounted prices. The retailer is one of the growing outlets operated by parallel importers, selling European high street fashion and names such as Tommy Hilfiger, Michael Kors and Ted Baker to local consumers. It’s a business that has disrupted the local retail space, presenting further challenges to the already distressed local clothing manufacturing sector. Parallel importers such Discount My Fashion (DMF) and Fashion Brand Outlet (FBO) have set up…

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KLT GROUP ACQUIRES NEW PLANT IN BRITS NORTH WEST PROVINCE

Chassis manufacturer, KLT Group, has announced the acquisition of a new plant, AVMY Steel Science, a state-of-the-art pressing, welding, assembly and e-coating facility located in Brits. The move forms part of KLT Group’s production expansion and diversification programme in South Africa. Operations at the plant commenced in June 2019 and current customers include Toyota, RG Brose, Ford and MBSA via a (Production Partnership) with Metalsa Germany. KLT Group Chairman Jubin Thakkar says the new plant brings the number of South African-based KLT Group plants to four, with another plant in…

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The R480 billion industry that has flown under the radar in South Africa – until now

The R480 billion industry that has flown under the radar in South Africa – until now Total turnover for the logistics industry for enterprises only involved in mining, retail and manufacturing, was estimated to be R274 billion in 2018. “However, warehousing, road freight and even pipeline volumes, are often not categorised as logistics,” Ctrack said. “For example, when major retailers like Shoprite or Pick ‘n Pay transport and store goods, the transported volumes are listed under the retail category. Retailers like these see transportation as a cost centre and any…

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South Africa’s manufacturing industry is lagging behind the tech curve

A new study conducted by World Wide Worx in partnership with ERP software provider SYSPRO highlights that South African manufacturers have fallen behind the technological curve when compared to other industries. The study, named The Mobile Corporation in South Africa 2019, was presented by SYSPRO and World Wide Worx at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Johannesburg. The data from this study was collated from telephonic interviews with 400 high-level decision-makers at SA enterprises, with manufacturing companies forming around half of this sample. “This study provides interesting and surprising insight into…

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Building a (digital) bridge to SME success

For small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) sustainability matters – and today, sustainability is arguably best achieved by investing in the right technology. “The world has essentially become one marketplace, and one workforce,” says Jacobus de Nysschen, executive director at Creative CFO, a financial services firm based in Cape Town that is focused on the SME sector. “To build a successful company today, you have to gain access to the global innovation marketplace, which means embracing the right technology.” According to de Nysschen, the rapidly changing nature of the modern work…

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First Cut ‘strikes a new arc’ with the local manufacture of Messer welding electrodes

Recently First Cut, South Africa’s foremost distributor and manufacturer of cutting consumables and importer of leading-edge capital equipment for steel processing concluded an agreement with leading German company Messer Cutting Systems, to take over the existing South African agency. Messer Cutting Systems has had a long history in South Africa, and much of its capital equipment is being used by steel processors and fabricators throughout the country. With the conclusion of the new agreement, First Cut saw the opportunity to take Messer to new heights locally. European principal Messer Cutting…

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Government honours women entrepreneurs in agriculture, forestry and fisheries

JOHANNESBURG  – The department of agriculture, forestry and fisheries has honoured female entrepreneurs in the sector for their role in ensuring food security, poverty alleviation, job creation and economic growth. At an event held during women’s month in South Africa, the department in partnership with Total South Africa hosted the 20th annual female entrepreneur awards in Cape Town on Thursday night, where honours were given to the best female worker, subsistence producer and the top entrepreneurs in the smallholder, procession, commercial and export sectors. The department said this year’s theme…

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Women entrepreneurs follow passion to take advantage of the retail market

CAPE TOWN – South Africa’s rising unemployment rate calls for entrepreneurship as one of the many measures to assist in creating more job opportunities, which could also help in fighting crime and poverty in the country. Four women entrepreneurs from Gauteng and Cape Town responded to the call by following their passions and taking advantage of the retail market while creating jobs and inspiring other women entrepreneurs looking to break barriers in the market. Ntombenhle Khathwane, from Gauteng and owner of AfroBotanics started the business to empower African women to…

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