Buying local – Uplifting small local businesses could grow the economy by R200-billion

By Charndré Emma Kippie

President Ramaphosa’s R200-billion target 

SONA 2021 took place Thursday, 11 February 2021, and during his address of the country’s finances and manufacturing sector, President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasised that our economy could see major recovery come about if citizens continuously choose to make more local purchases, decreasing the need for imports. 

“The second priority intervention of the Recovery Plan is to support a massive increase in local production and to make South African exports globally competitive. This will encourage greater investment by the private sector. Key to this plan is a renewed commitment from the government, business, and organised labour to buy local”, said Ramaphosa. 

President Ramaphosa went on to encourage the public to buy products that are produced right here, inside our borders. Ramaphosa urges that a positive change in mindset, with consumers opting to purchase authentic South African goods, could potentially contribute an estimated R200-billion to the fiscus.

Ramaphosa, deemed an ambitious dreamer by the masses, voiced strategic plans to lower the level of the country’s imports by 20% over the next five years. South African Leadership has their focus on revitalising the country’s manufacturing sector, with numerous plans set out to make South Africa’s exports ‘globally competitive’ once again.

“If we achieve our target, we will significantly expand our productive economy, potentially returning more than R200-billion to the country’s annual output. These efforts are supported by robust manufacturing support programmes”, he concluded. 

Buying Local – products to look out for 

President Ramaphosa has since indicated that there are a total of 42 products that will be encouraged for local purchase, and these will be made public knowledge in due course. However, he emphasised seven specific products as part of his SONA speech. These products include:

• Edible oils
• Locally–produced furniture
• Fruit concentrates
• Personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Steel products made in South Africa
• Green economy inputs
• South African-made sugar

SA businesses making waves – local produce to consider

ILLOVO SUGAR AFRICA (PTY) LTD.

Illovo Sugar is Africa’s biggest sugar producer, with extensive agricultural and manufacturing operations, in six African countries. Illovo produces raw and refined sugar for local, regional African, European Union (EU), United States of America (USA) and world markets, from sugar cane supplied by its own agricultural operations and independent outgrowers who supply cane to Illovo’s factories.

The organisation employs more than 12 000 people in permanent positions across the group, with a further 18 000 people employed on a temporary basis. The company aims to ensure reliable cost-effective energy supply, utilising bagasse and biomass generated from its operations.

Around 14 million tons of sugar cane are processed annually, by 12 sugar mills, under the group’s cane sugar integrated business sustainability model, maximising the use of all input materials with very few waste products.

CORICRAFT – TAPESTRY HOME BRANDS

Coricraft is enthusiastic about producing and selling high-quality, budget-friendly furniture, and boasts an incredible range of modern and traditional homeware styles. The company is well-known for their wooden furniture pieces and versatile couches. Coricraft designs and produces home furniture with the aim of manufacturing pieces that consumers can proudly add to their homes. 

Coricraft are famous for their exceptional quality leather couches, in various finishes. Each couch is manufactured in South Africa at their couch factory in either Cape Town or Johannesburg. Their experienced furniture manufacturers are skilled at creating high-quality couches meant to last for years.

The company has about 50 different walk-in furniture stores across Southern Africa, and also offers an online shopping experience. 

STEELMOR INDUSTRIES

Established by Hendrik van der Bijl, as the Iron and Steel Corporation (ISCOR) in South Africa, in 1943, stainless steel has been a major contributor to creating jobs and fostering  industry development in South Africa – upholding strict standards of manufacturing excellence and quality.

Currently, stainless steel in South Africa remains in high demand across various industries, from medical to construction, industrial equipment, and even in the catering market.  A booming stainless steel industry continuously stimulates our economy, promoting innovation, technology advancement and enhancing infrastructure across a broad spectrum of applications.

Steelmor has played a leading role in this important market for more than 40 years, and is popularly regarded as a top stainless steel specialist and leading stockist and manufacturer of stainless steel products – right here on our home ground. 

ATYRE

Created by the innovative young female designer, Reabetswe Ngwane, this local fashion brand is a premium producer and retailer of handmade bags that are not only beautifully designed and made to last, but friendly to the environment and socially inclusive.

Atyre upholds a minimum wastage policy in their factory, where all fabrics are maximised to the best of their capabilities. The company has also created full time employment for 6 local community members, with numbers growing substantially. Atyre actively works with waste pickers who collect and trade recyclable materials for employment, to supply them with the tyre tubes.

Each item is handcrafted from sturdy, upcycled tyre material, and carefully selected textiles from local South African suppliers. The company’s vision is geared towards becoming a global leader in sustainable fashion, and a game changer in Africa. Atyre is committed to continually innovating the craft of bag making, to not only be ecologically friendly and sustainable, but also socially inclusive by working with local communities to eradicate poverty.

Top Reasons For Buying Local:

• Local businesses tend to partner with other local entities, such as service providers, farms and banks. This enhances development, growth, and sustainability of the economy.
• Buying local demonstrates national pride, showing confidence in locally made products.
• South African products are tailored to meet uniquely South African needs and solve the issues that local economic sectors face – in a manner that international products cannot. 
• Local product demands create and save jobs – we are keeping markets open.

*For more insight into the public sector and trade developments, check out the April edition of the Public Sector Leaders publication here.