"The road to success is always under construction" Lily Tomlin

INTRODUCTION SAFI IN THIS ISSUE

SAFI ANOUNCEMENTThe South African Furniture Initiative would like to extend our appreciation to the industry for its

support throughout the year.

NB: Please note that the South African Furniture Initiative Shutdown period is as follows:

23 December 2017 - 3 January 2018

Wishing you all the best through the festivities, stay safe and act responsibly!

Compliments of the season!

The SAFI Team

SAFI PROGRAMMES· Internship Programme· Rebate update· National Database· Turnaround Solutions Programme

WORKSHOPS AND EVENTS:· Agro-processing Incentive Workshops· SAFI AGM & Industry Event· SAFI BOD 2018/2019· SAFCOL Conference· 17th Edition Design Mission Africa· FP&M SETA AGM

FEATURED:· The College of Production Technology· Z&M Interiors · Lowe Furniture and Décor

APPLICATIONS· Proudly SA Membership· THRIP· Agro-processing Incentive Scheme

SAFI PROGRAMMES

· Internship Programme

SAFI offers an annual Work Integrated Learning (WIL) and Internship programme from 6-12 Months to TVET and University students. Five students from different TVET Collegesand universities countrywide have joined the SAFI Cape Town and Johannesburg Office.

At our Cape Town Office:

Zaakiyah SamboND: Human Resources Management

Cape Peninsula University of Technology

Lauren BezuidenhoutND: Human Resources Management

Cape Peninsula University of Technology

At our Johannesburg Office:

Refuoe SenatsiNSC: Financial Management South West Gauteng College

Siphamandla Phatho Bachelor of Public Administration

University of the Free State

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· Rebate Update

Furniture manufactures should take note of the announcement on the 01September 2017 by the South African Revenue Services,Department of Customs and Excise about the insertion of Rebate Items for the full customs duty on imported goods used in themanufacture of furniture and mattress supports, which include:

Rebate Item 320.01/3926.90.90/01.08 "Fittings of plastics, for use in the manufacture of furniture classifiable in tariffheadings 94.01, 94.03 and mattress supports of subheading 9404.10";Rebate Item 320.01/4409.29.90/01.08 "Wooden dowels (excluding those of bamboo), non-coniferous, for use in themanufacture of furniture classifiable in tariff headings 94.01, 94.03 and mattress supports of subheading 9404.10";Rebate Item 320.01/8301.30/01.06 "Locks and keys of base metal, for use in the manufacture of furniture classifiable intariff headings 94.01, 94.03 and mattress supports of subheading 9404.10";320.01/8202.10/01.06 "Hinges of base metal, for use in the manufacture of furniture classifiable in tariff headings 94.01,94.03 and mattress supports of subheading 9404.10"; andRebate Item 320.01/8302.42.90/01/08 "Base metal mountings, fittings and similar articles suitable for furniture, other, foruse in the manufacture of furniture classifiable in tariff headings 94.01, 94.03 and mattress supports of subheading9404.10".

These rebate items were created by the South African International Trade Administration Commission for the furniture industry onrequest from the industry to assist the industry to become more competitive against imports in the Southern African market.Product imported under these rebate items do not need to apply for permit.

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· National Database

SAFI in partnership with the Furniture Bargaining Councils has embarked on a projectto update the National Furniture Industry Database. SAFI has received numerousinternational and local enquiries regarding access to markets in the country, howeverdue to the incomplete and out-of-date database, meeting these requests andenquiries have proven to be quite challenging often resulting in a loss of businessopportunity for the industry - thus we urge members of the industry and the councilsto prioritize this project.

Apart from expanding the industry market field, the NationalFurniture Industry Database Update also aids the Councilswith the update their own records, which further serves asstatistical data towards industry research for the Department ofTrade and other industry entities.

We would like to thank the companies that have completed their information.

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· Turnaround Solutions Programme

Apart from enabling business opportunities for the South African Furniture Industry,SAFI also prioritises setting the scene for successful business transactions bysculpting our local small, medium and micro enterprises (SMME's) enabling them tosuccessfully engage with the economy and the opportunities it has to offer, andfurthermore even improve and grow.

SAFI in partnership with Productivity SA and the Department of Trade Industry (DTI)has a solution to your business situation.

The Productivity SA Turnaround Solution Programme wants to improve yourbusiness situation!

The TAS (Turnaround Solution) programme has been around for 19 Years, buildingand strengthening the functional and operational processes of businesses, throughpractical implementation of successful technical business strategies.

These related 'business specific' issues are addressed by either Productivity SAstaff, many of whom are Industrial Engineers, or subject matter experts we'll sourcewhen needed.

So if your business is experiencing a decline in sales and production, or is facing apossible large retrenchment, or is in distress whether it is financial or managerial -you have found the solution and the GOOD NEWS is that TAS interventions arenow fully funded - the cost associated with the implementation of a jointly developedturnaround strategy is 100% covered by the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) -an agency of the Department of Labour.

CONTACT:

HEAD OFFICE

Midrand

MidrandInternational Business GatewayCnr New and Sixth RoadsMidrand

TEL: +27 (0) 11 848 5300FAX: +27 (0) 11 848 5555

WWW.PRODUCTIVITYSA.CO.ZA

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WORKSHOPS AND EVENTS

· Agro-processing Incentive Workshops

Following the announcement of the Agro-processing Support Scheme (APSS) Incentive (FurnitureManufacturing and Fibre processing included), SAFI and the dti in partnership with provincialstakeholders hosted Furniture Workshops in Kwa-Zulu Natal Durban on the 3rd July 2017, WesternCape, Cape Town on the 4th July 2017, Eastern Cape Port Elizabeth on the 5th July 2017 and GautengSandton on the 6th July 2017.

The purpose of the session was to discuss the aims and objectives of the scheme; the qualifying criteria;and the application process. Provincial representatives also gave informative presentations on furtherindustry information to assist the businesses in their development.

The sessions were interactive and encouraged discussions on collaborative support measures that maylead to growth in the furniture manufacturing sector.

From left: Bernadette Isaacs - SAFI, Lionel Archil l ies - dti

Tsholofelo Motaung - dti and Vuyo Zitha - dti

From left: Rajeshri Sardha - dti Tsholofelo Motaung - dti Shahnaaz Denat –SAFI

Cebile Khanyile – KZNEDTEAAnasuyah Pather – EThekwini Munic ipality Economic Development

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· SAFI AGM & Industry Event

The South African Furniture Initiative hosted their Industry Event and Annual General Meeting on the 13thSeptember 2017at the eBandla Hotel & Convention Centre in Ballito, were 80 delegates from the FurnitureIndustry attended.

The future development of the industry is reliant on the support and co-operation of all stakeholders in theFurniture Value in order for it to achieve the strategic goals of the Industry and this is was why it was decided tolaunch the Furniture Industry Event, so that companies could start collaborating.

SAFI has dedicated support from the industry which includes the Bargaining Councils, Employer Associations,Labour organizations and government.

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· SAFI BOD 2018/2019

SAFI Board of Directors 2018/2019

Western Cape Kwazulu-Natal Gauteng

Carl Burger Alexander Khan Cobus Van Vuuren

Morne Smith Jonathan Van Rooyen Educated Nkosi

Peter Grey Krebashnee Govender Lance Dirksen

Walter Dyers Mark Richardson Nico Badenhorst

Ricardo Goodheart Penwell Lunga

Roger Little

Victor Abrahams

Yvette Gradwell

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· SAFCOL Forestry Industrialisation Conference

SAFCOL (South African Forestry Company Limited) held a conference on the 4th& 5thOctober 2017 at Transnet Freight Rail in Kempton Park.

The purpose of the Conference was to bring together forestry related decision makers and corporate stakeholders from both the public and private sectors of business to explorethe industry status quo, challenges to be addressed and opportunities to be exploited; including alignment to international developments and to create exposure for the industryto the broader South Africa.

The conference was interactive and informative and tackled issues head on without shying away from matters that were raised by industry.

Discussions were led by industry experts such as Mr Dikobe Martins the deputy Minister of the Public Enterprise, The Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries,

General Bheki Cele, our very own SAFI chairman Mr Penwell Lunga amongst others.

SAFCOL (South African Forestry Company Limited) is the third largest state-owned forestry company in South Africa, under theDepartment of Public Enterprises (DPE) with operations in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Kwa Zulu Natal, as well as in the northern parts ofMozambique.

SAFCOL‘s mandate is; to conduct forestry business which includes timber harvesting, timber processing and related activities, bothdomestically and internationally. Through our operations we employ about 5000 people through direct and indirect employment and byextension, are responsible for about 20 000 lives in communities adjacent our operations.

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· 18th Edition Design Mission Africa

We are proud to announce that the South African Furniture Initiative is anAssociation Partner for the 18th Edition Design Mission Africa.

Design Mission Africa is Africa‘s leading B2B procurement platforms. Thesectors covered at the summit are the Residential, Commercial,Healthcare, Hospitality and Mixed-used projects.

The summit is hosted by IDE, a global real estate solutions company. IDEis connected with over 1000 of real estate project holders pan Africa. Aftera methodical qualification process, 350+ projects will be represented atthe summit. These projects have an immediate requirement to procurefurniture products.

Every single buyer attending the initiative is pre-qualified to ensure you aremeeting the decision-makers with a budget to source products at thesummit with the timeframe of 12 months making the requirementimmediate.

As a promoter of the furniture industry in South Africa, we highlyrecommend attending the 18th Edition Design Mission Africa.

As an Association Partner, our members are entitled to an exclusive discount on all packages. To avail the discount, please send in your enquiry by writing an email tovyshak@ide-global.com with the Subject Line: ‘SAFI Member Interested in DMA 2017‘.

Note: Kindly do not register on the website if you are requesting for the exclusive discount.

With a power-packed agenda, strategic networking sessions, and a unique face-to-face meeting format, the 18th Edition Design Mission Africa s all set to be the defining initiativein the African continent in 2017. It is an event that simply cannot be missed.

If you would like to know more about the event or the attending buyers, write in to Vyshak Simha, Marketing Head at IDE Consulting Services on vyshak@ide-global.com toknow more.

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· FP&M SETA AGM

The Fibre Processing and Manufacturing (FP & M) SETA hereby gives notice of theAnnual General meeting (AGM) to be held on Friday, 24 November 2017 inJohannesburg from 10:00 to 15:00.

The FP & M SETA cordially invited all stakeholders to confirm their attendance bysubmitting their registration form (available from our website: www.fpmseta.org.za).The closing date for registration was Monday, 23 October 2017.

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FEATURED

· The College of Production Technology

· The College of Production Technology

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· Z&M Interiors

Z&M Interiors is a small, family owned business operating from the West of Johannesburg since 1999, boasting over 40 years of trade relevant experience.

Z&M currently specialize in the manufacturing of Upholstered Furniture solutions, with the core of their business currently coming from their close partnerships with InteriorDecorators and Retailers alike.

Z&M Interiors work closely with Interior Decorators to help the visions of their clientele cometo life by fully leveraging their in-house manufacturing skills, by producing pieces of furniturewhich in most cases would generally be difficult to come by.

Along with the assistance of SEDA (small enterprise development agency), Z&M Interiorswas able to lock-down an amazing opportunity to exhibit their capabilities at the 2017DecorexEvent in Johannesburg, held at the Gallagher Convention in Midrand.

With it being the first year that this opportunity became available, much anticipation wascreated by the 5 day event attracting more than 700 exhibitors from both local andinternational backgrounds. This became a real opportunity for Z&M to showcase their work to

thousands of potential consumers and businesses alike.

The 5 day event proved more than valuable to the Z&M Team, with their stand having constantattention on all the days, allowing the Team to make some great contacts within the industry.They were able to connect with those seeking some inspiration for their new homes, othercompanies operating within the same space, as well as potential buyers from both SouthAfrica and abroad.

The Z&M Stand accommodated 4 individual pieces of hand crafted furniture,ranging from a Coffee Table, 2 fully upholstered chairs and a 3-seater couch.The pieces were carefully chosen prior to the event with 2 of the pieces beingtaken from the showroom floor of St. Leger & Viney, a close affiliate of Z&MInteriors.

Overall the Dexorex 2017 event was a huge success for Z&M Interiors andother businesses alike. With the amount of interest created by the event,this is definitely something worth considering if you operate withinfurniture/interior decorating space.

Plans to attend the 2018 event are already being put into place by the Z&MTeam and hopes for an even better response are already growing.

Z&M would like to thank SEDA for making attendance possible for them thisyear and to the organizers from Reed Exhibitions for hosting a truly,spectacular event.

Contact Details:

info@zminteriors.co.za

www.zminteriors.co.za

011 447 2720

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· Lowe Furniture and Décor

Lowe Furniture and Décor creates beautiful custom made furniture, steel designs andornamental accessories for customers. Our products are influenced by classical andtimeless designs. We use this rich history to create rich contemporary masterpieceswith solid wood, steel and glass. The latter is used as a combination or standaloneproduction material.

We acknowledge that style is not static hence we are consistently working oncreating new lifestyle products that are beautiful, enduring and compatible to theSouth African and the rest of the continent ‘s living landscape.

Our main core values are depicted by the acronym "HOPE": Honesty, Openness,Perseverance and Excellence.

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CELL: 0797794284 TEL: 011-6722185Email: Velaphimp@gmail.com or Velaphi@Lowesfd.co.za

Web: http://www.lowesfd.co.za/Facebook (Most Updated with products): https://m.facebook.com/LoweSFD/

Factory and Showroom: Furntech Building, 11 Granville Avenue, Lea Glen and TheStables Farmers Village Market in Chartwell, Johannesburg North.

Download our full profile here.

APPLICATIONS

· Proudly SA Membership

The Proudly South African campaign will encourage the nation to make personal and organisational contributions to economic growth and prosperity in South Africa, therebyincreasing employment opportunities and reinforcing national pride.

Members of Proudly South African share a commitment to an uplifting ethos that promotes social and economic change and progress. They make a meaningful contributionto building South Africa's economy, alleviating unemployment and retaining existing employment opportunities.

HOW TO REGISTER:

An application form must be completed. A copy can bedownloaded from our website and our completed online by creatinga profile and completing the online registration.

Prospective members of Proudly South African need todemonstrate or provide evidence, that they meet each of the Campaign's criteria.Supporting "evidence" will differ according to the industry sector in which thecompany/ organisation/individual operates. It is important for the business/organisation to demonstrate how it, as a unique entity, meets these criteria. Thisentails the provision of supporting documentation such as:

SABS or an ISO quality certificate.The company/business‘s internal quality policy.Trade union support.Certification by the relevant quality regulatory body.Certificate of membership of a recognized industry association.

Organisations that want to use the Proudly South African mark of quality to identifythemselves and their products/services have to meet four criteria:

Local Content at - least 50% of the cost of production must be incurred inSouth Africa and there must be "substantial transformation" of any importedmaterials.Quality - the product or service must be of a proven high quality for example,it must be ISO accredited or have a certificate of any other accreditationorganisation.Fair Labour Practice - the company must comply with the current labourlegislation and adhere to fair labour practices.Environmental Standards - the company must be environmentallyresponsible and adhere to production processes that are environmentallyfriendly acceptable.

If you require any further assistance please contact our office and ask to speak toour membership department 011 327 7778 or send a mailto Info@proudlysa.co.za

http://www.proudlysa.co.za/business-site/how-to-register.htm

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· THRIP

This Technology Programme is designed to enable South African industries to accessinnovative responses to technological needs, while producing a flow of highly skilled

Creating knowledge-based, internationally competitive, South African Industries.The Technology and Human Resources for Industry Programme (THRIP) is a flagshipresearch and development programme of the dti, which aims to support research ontechnologies to develop the competitiveness of South African industries.

innovative responses to technological needs, while producing a flow of highly skilledresearchers and technology managers, through applied research performed at HigherEducation Institutions (HEIs) and Science, Engineering and TechnologyInstitutions(SETIs).

Therefore if you would like to embark on research that would assist your business andthe industry, find the call for application below and/or get more information athttp://thrip.nrf.ac.za/SitePages/Home.aspx

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· Agro-processing Incentive Scheme

The Agro-Processing Support Schemes next designated application window for thereceipt of applications will be 1 September 2017 until 31 January 2018.

You are requested to kindly submit accurate and completed applications with allrelevant supporting documentation by e-mail to apssapplications@thedti.gov.za

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wishing you all a prosperous festiveseason

http://www.furnituresa.org.za

CAPE TOWN OFFICE:

75 Harrington StreetCape Town8001

Tel: +27 212 860 821/2Fax: +27 864 438 028Email: safi.info@furniture.org.za

JOHANNESBURG OFFICE:

Office 3053rd Floor Northcliff Atrium

189 Beyers Naude Drive2195

Tel: 0118880655Fax: +27 864 438 028Email: safi.gp@furniture.org.za

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