The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) has highlighted the stories of two companies that operate in the clothing and textile sector to underline the importance of sector master plans and the positive impact of the collaboration between government, business and labour on the South African economy.

One of the interventions initiated under the Retail–Clothing Textile Footwear Leather (R-CTFL) Master Plan, is the redesigned Clothing Textile Footwear Leather Growth Programme (CTFLGP), which was launched in 2022 and has contributed to the creation of more than 20 000 jobs.

Import substitution, the creation of new jobs, transformation and competitiveness improvements are the main objectives of the programme.

dtic clothing and leather director Dr Jaywant Irkhede says more than R1.87-billion had been approved for 154 businesses employing almost 24 000 people and that R1.41-billion had been disbursed by July.

One of the beneficiaries of the programme is R and L Apparel, a woman-owned company based in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal.

The company received financial support for the purchase of equipment and machinery, as well as for initial working capital, in order to grow its cut, make and trim (CMT) manufacturing capacity.

R and L Apparel MD Solis Benjie Dolores says the support enabled the company to increase its production, improve product quality, create jobs and grow its customer base, which now includes national retailer The Foschini Group (TFG).

The business supplies its goods to TFG through Celtico, one of the CMT suppliers in the Newcastle clothing industry.

“The funding assisted us greatly in creating additional jobs. We had only 17 workers when we applied for the programme. As of August, we were able to reach a staff complement of 103 employees, 98 of whom are women.

“We are looking forward to achieving the additional 150 jobs that we have committed to,” Dolores highlights.

“The CTFLGP is a great initiative. The programme opened new doors for our company's growth. Without the funding, we might have just stayed on 17 workers, because our machinery and working capital were very limited.

“Before we received the funding, we were running a hand-to-mouth operation that was kept going only by the dedication and endeavours of our team. Now the company is on a positive growth trajectory,” she adds.

Dolores says the company is planning to acquire automated machinery to expand its production capacity based on market demand, as local retailers are increasingly embracing Proudly South African products.

“We are happy to contribute to import substitution, growing the economy and, more importantly, creating jobs for the local people, both skilled and unskilled, assisting them to earn a decent living,” she asserts.

Argento MD Joudalle Govender also attests to the positive impact of the CTFLGP on her company, which is based in Mandeni, KwaZulu-Natal.

The company manufactures apparel and corporate clothing for a major retailer and several corporate clients.

“We used the funding for operational expenses and to re-tool the factory with new machinery. The funding allowed us to create 45 new jobs. One hundred people are currently employed in our company, 80 of whom are women. Our profit margins increased, and we had a rapid growth in production due to the extra capacity,” says Govender.

She adds that the company is planning to expand its product lines, adopt sustainable practices, improve its manufacturing efficiency and explore new markets.

“Our future plans include expanding our current building and creating 100 more jobs. We are also looking into exporting our local garments and creating more awareness on local manufacturing in South Africa,” adds Govender.

She emphasises the importance of the R-CTFL Master Plan in promoting sustainability and innovation within the industry, which she says is crucial in adapting to changing market demands and consumer preferences.

“I love the fact that the plan focuses on several key objectives, such as job creation and increasing local production. Argento is a local champion because we produce our own local fabric in the rural area of Isithebe.

“My favourite part is that the plan enhances competitiveness in the global market, by fostering collaboration between government, labour and industry stakeholders. That is important for our economy,” stresses Govender.