From Left: DTI, Tafadzwa Nyanzunda

Council of Advisors Representative

Penwell Lunga – SAFI Chairperson

Docus Zenda – SAFI Employee

Co Registration Number: 2009/003078/08 | Public Benefit Number: 930 031 297 | Level Four B-BBEE Contributor

Directors: A Khan, E Nkosi, G Stone, G van Esch, JH Roothman, K Govender, L Dirksen,

M Smith, N Badenhorst, P Lunga, R Ellerbeck, S Govender, S Nieuwoudt, V Abrahams, W Dyers

Positioned as the voice of the Furniture Industry with the mandate to facilitate transformation within the industry, SAFI has significantly grown these past few months. Initially established as a pilot: The WCFI - Western Cape Furniture Initiative came to life in February 2009, followed by the formation of a National Steering Committee in August 2014 formed for expansion and in August 2015 (WCFI) was nationalized, giving birth to the South African Furniture Initiative (SAFI), formally launched on the 5 August 2016 at the Gallagher Convention Centre. Fifteen Board of directors were elected at the AGM on the 5

th August 2016, seated

across three regions: Cape, Gauteng and Kwa-Zulu Natal, with representatives from the Employers Associations, Unions, raw material supplier and retailer, and Councils of Advisors.

SOUTH AFRICAN FURNITURE INITIATIVE

With the success of the launch and the appointment of the Board of directors, SAFI has expanded their offices, now situated in Western Cape and the other in Gauteng run by Chief Executive Officer: Ms. Debbie Don-Pierrot and Chief Operating Officer: Mrs. Bernadette Isaacs.

On the 13 October 2016 the SAFI Board of Directors meeting was held at the Furniture Bargaining Council in the Western Cape, where Chairperson

Mr. Lunga was appointed, followed by the appointment of Mr. Dirksen to Vice Chairperson – SAFI congratulates them on their appointments.

Furthermore SAFI would like to extend their appreciation to all its Board of directors, members, sponsors and supporters in their assistance with the growth of SAFI.

Volume 1, Issue 3

October 2016

THE SAFI STORY

SAFI NEWS

THE SAFI STORY 1

SAFI PROGRAMMES 2

EVENTS & WORKSHOP ATTENDED 2-3

INDUSTRY NEWS 4

CONTACT US 4

Chief Executive Officer:

Debbie Don-Pierrot

Chief Operating Officer:

Bernadette Isaacs

Chairperson:

Penwell Lunga

SAFI Board of Directors Vice Chairperson:

Lance Dirksen

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :

THE SKILLS PROGRAMME: UPHOLSTERY

SAFI PROGRAMMES

Another successful programme that has touched lives! The Skills Programme recognizes people of all ages and backgrounds who lack the necessary experience and skills which qualify them for employment. The overall objective of the Upholstery Skills Programme was to identify learners whom this programme may benefit, providing them with a platform where they are able to develop and enhance their technical skills which not only led to certification but employment opportunities in the Upholstery sector. This programme is nationally

recognized and is at the heart of the SETA’s. Appreciation to the FP&M SETA who funded the Upholstery Level 2 Skills Program - Furntech (WC) and Skills to Furnish International (GAU), the training providers who were generous enough to each take on ten participants for the programme, SAFI would like to extend much appreciation to them as well. The training programme took place over four months, with six participants out of the ten from Skills to Furnish International registering for the level 3 Upholstery skills programme. Ten participants of the initial 20 have found work placements, and SAFI would like to congratulate them all on their

completion of the programme and their placements, furthermore we felicitate them on their dedication and perseverance - we wish them well on their new journey.

“Appreciation to the

FP&M SETA who funded the Upholstery Level 2

Skills Programme”

SAFI NEWS Page 2

SAFI would like to extend

their gratitude to The

Department of Trade and Industry (the DTI) for their

invitation to SAFI to attend the Isithebe Industrial Park Launch which took place in Mandeni, KwaZulu-Natal on the 4

th October 2016.

This was the launch of the first phase of Isithebe Industrial Park revitalisation programme.

Isithebe is one of the 10 industrial parks that have been prioritised for revitalization as part of the programme.

The DTI in collaboration with the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) in Midrand then hosted The Industrial Parks Symposium which took place over the

12th

& 13th

October 2016.

SAFI attended the Symposium which brought together the various South African industries in the hopes to give new life to the industrial parks in South Africa.

The aim of this Symposium was to hear from existing industrial park companies, the challenges they face and thus get feedback and ideas from industry representatives on ways to improve and resolve the challenges outlined.

Across all sectors it was agreed that there is still work to be done in our parks in order to attain a standard whereby they will be beneficial to both the country and independent companies.

The objective of these parks is to improve the lives of the communities, empower people, and attract foreign investment amongst others. The first phase of the Industrial Parks project is already in motion with the set date of the completion of 10 parks by the end of March 2017.

EVENTS & WORKSHOPS ATTENDED SAFI AT THE ISITHEBE INDUSTRIAL PARK LAUNCH &

INDUSTRIAL PARKS SYMPOSIUM

Westgate Industrial Park

Phoenix Industrial Park

Minister Rob Davies at the launch of the

Revitalisation of Isithebe Industrial Park

From Right:

Chief Operating Officer

Mrs. Bernadette Isaacs

“…the SAFI Forestry

Beneficiation Framework

Constraints and Opportunities

presentation, which introduced SAFI to the

other stakeholders”

Events & Workshops Page 3

in September before the massive 100 Percent Design London Exhibition, SAFI CEO Debbie Don-Pierrot attended HOMI in Milan, Italy, while in Italy SAFI met with the Economic Offices Marketing Officer Ms. Marcella Uttaro at the South African Consulate-General.

Ms Uttaro placed SAFI in contact with Ms Marina Mira d’Ercole of The European House - Ambrosetti who invited SAFI to the South Africa - Italy Summit which took place at Hyatt Regency

in Johannesburg, between the 18

th & 19

th October

2016.

The summit brought together leading Italian and South African political and business leaders, with the objective of strengthening strategic and commercial relationships as well as building fundamental communication between the relevant decision makers and government officials within the two countries.

With furniture being one of Italy’s expertise, SAFI was fortunate enough to tap into

this pool of opportunity and meet with fellow furniture industry leaders of Italy, more specifically Marina Mira d’Ercole to discuss bilateral opportunities for cooperation with the furniture industry, and furthermore the possibility of developing a session for the South Africa-Italy Summit edition next year.

***Watch the space***

The DTI, held a Forestry Beneficiation Framework Workshop, which was held on the 25 October 2016 at the Department of Agriculture Forestry & Fisheries (DAFF) offices in Pretoria.

The purpose of the workshop was to identify challenges and opportunities for input to the strategy and budget which is to be developed to support the processing side of the forestry value chain.

SAFI Chief Operating Officer Mrs. Bernadette Isaacs and SAFI Chairperson Mr. Penwell Lunga represented SAFI at the meeting with Mrs. Isaacs presenting the Furniture Industry Constraints and Opportunities presentation, which introduced SAFI to the other stakeholders at the workshop which included:

Forestry (FSA), Sawmilling, Pulp and Paper, as well as other government departments which included DAFF, Economic Affairs, Science and Technology and CSIR.

The presentation emphasised the critical investment areas in the wood furniture manufacturing sector which should include the following support areas:

Continued engagement with the Furniture Retailers to encourage supplier development and local sourcing.

The design of incentives by the DTI and capital access by the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) to support existing suppliers to furniture retailers to enable them to meet the supply requirements of

retailers and;

Providing specific support to manufacturers that are export ready to do market development and thereafter export to the SADC region.

SAFI AT THE SOUTH AFRICA ITALY SUMMIT

AT HYATT JOHANNESBURG

SAFI AT THE DTI FORESTRY BENEFICIATION FRAMEWORK WORKSHOP

From Right:

Chairperson

Mr. Penwell Lunga

@SAFIFurniture

@SAFurnitureInitiative

- Regards SAFI Team

Western Cape :

75 Harrington Street Cape Town 8001 Gauteng:

Office 305 3

rd Floor Northcliff Atrium

189 Beyers Naude Drive 2195 Phone: +27 212 860 821/2

Fax: +27 864 438 028 E-mail: safi.admin@furniture.org.za

We’re on the Web!

http://www.furnituresa.org.za

CONTACT DETAILS Page 4

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