Isuzu Motors South Africa (IMSAf) has recently issued an Enterprise Development grant of close to half a million Rand for the localisation of an extended reach aerial platform – also known as a cherry picker – in South Africa.

The SLT 180 telescopic aerial platform will be developed and manufactured locally by Isuzu business partner Smith Capital Equipment (SCE) to reach heights of 16 to 18 metres, which previously could only be achieved with imported platforms. Currently SCE locally designs and manufactures the following ranges of aerial platforms: telescopic (T100, T120, T140) and articulated (9SS, SL125, 12SS, 15SS, 21SS).

SCE, which is head-quartered in Gauteng, is an 84% majority black-owned and 56% majority black woman-owned company specialising in aerial platforms, drilling rigs and importation and installation of FASSI cranes.

Set to meet the highest international design standards, the first engineering prototype of the SLT 180 manufactured in South Africa is expected to be completed by the end of 2021, said Fortunate Mdanda, Chief Executive Officer of SCE.

“Safety is of paramount importance when designing such a structure therefore caution needs to be observed. With the growing preference for telescoping aerial units over articulating units, the SLT 180 will be the first locally manufactured telescoping unit able to reach heights beyond 16 metres, therefore it presents great market opportunities,” said Mdanda.

She added that the new venture which is supported by Isuzu with an investment of R485 000, will allow SCE to upskill the development capabilities of the company and its labour force.

“The development of this new product will help with job retention as it poses new market possibilities likely to expand the company product range and consequently cultivate internal skills development,” said Mdanda.

Dominic Rimmer, Senior Vice President of Technical Operations at Isuzu Motors South Africa, said this Enterprise Development grant aligns not only with Isuzu’s transformation values, but also government’s call for localisation and enterprise development partnerships in the automotive sector.

The SLT 180 will typically fit on an Isuzu truck, and is set to provide state-of-the-art truck body solutions for Isuzu customers in a range of industries.

SCE is no stranger to Isuzu, as it is a subsidiary of Isipho Capital Holdings. In 2019 Isipho Capital Holdings made history with the purchase of Bates Shelly Beach, as the first Isuzu dealership to be 100% black-owned, in addition to being 65% woman-owned.

Isipho Capital Holdings is run by Mdanda, and her husband, Sipho. The power couple are at the forefront of South Africa’s new wave of Black industrialists.

“Isuzu is committed to transformation and continues to drive a culture of inclusivity. If we do not empower our value chain, the economy cannot grow. We therefore ensure that we support supplier and dealer transformation initiatives, as well as the deepening of the local value chain through enterprise development initiatives such as this partnership with SCE,” said Rimmer.

Caption:

An extended reach aerial platform, which will reach heights of 16 to 18 metres, will be locally produced by Isuzu Enterprise Development Partner, Smith Capital Equipment (SCE).

Contact:

Iviwe Poti, Corporate Communications Officer

Phone: +27 (0) 41 403 3046 iviwe.poti@isuzu.co.za

About Isuzu Motors South Africa

Isuzu Motors South Africa is a wholly owned subsidiary of Isuzu Motors Limited of Japan. Isuzu has had a presence in South Africa since 1964, when the first commercial vehicles entered the market, which was soon followed by the introduction of light commercial vehicles in 1972. The brand’s popularity grew and resulted in local production of light commercial vehicles in 1978.  Today, Isuzu remains one of South Africa’s leading commercial vehicle brands and has become renowned for its durability and reliability. For more information on Isuzu products visit www.isuzu.co.za.

As the COVID-19 outbreak continues to take its toll on businesses and the economy at large, Standard Bank remains committed to finding new ways to keep South African businesses going during this critical time.

The Standard Bank Trade Department offers business owners a comprehensive bundle of solutions for business growth.

“Enabling businesses that align with our vision contributes to the growth of our economy and, in turn, the growth of our continent. Regardless of the economic climate, the backbone of businesses that thrive has always been their ability to navigate the ever-changing trade landscape,” said Leigh-Anne de Witt, Head, Client Coverage, Business Clients, Eastern Cape.

Standard Bank Trade clients are introduced to vetted buyers and suppliers around the world.

“Trust in your suppliers and buyers is critical, so we will introduce you to pre-vetted, reputable, reliable and trusted sellers and buyers both locally and internationally. We have a sophisticated algorithm that will match you with relevant businesses that you can connect with to help your business grow,” Leigh-Anne added.

The platform also provides clients with financial products that help expand their business and mitigate risks. The Standard Bank Trade solution products help by extending cashflow cycle with supply chain finance, facilitating outstanding payments with documentary trade products and navigating international payments.

Standard Bank also partners with clients end-to-end, working with them throughout their trade journey to manage all their banking and logistics needs through a single point of contact. An Executive Trade Partner will proactively ensure that goods arrive on time, in the condition ordered and at the expected price.

By partnering with other experienced players in the trade value chain, Standard Bank has developed tools that calculate comprehensive costings for every unit purchased, while generating predictive timelines for every import.

Leigh-Anne de Witt concluded, “As your trade partner, we are dedicated to helping you and we are all about creating endless possibilities for you and your business”.

For all your trade enquiries please call Loyiso Nyengule on 082 794 1524  or email him at Loyiso.Nyengule@standardbank.co.za.

Sovereign Foods export program is alive and well! Some of the really exciting happenings are highlighted below.

Despite the severe restrictions the COVID – 19 pandemic has placed on international trade, Sovereign Foods is proud to say that we not only continued the supply of product to our United Arab Emirates (UAE) customer base, but we  have also successfully secured the supply of poultry to three new customers in the UAE. One of these customers is the largest supplier of poultry to a very well developed retail sector in Dubai. The other two new customers have a very strong presence in the food services sector.  As I am sure you can imagine the UAE has a very large consumption per capita of poultry. This makes the securing of supply to these reputable companies even more exciting. Sovereign is also in negotiation with a potential fourth new customer, and if successful this would stimulate the growth of export business even further.

To complement the above, Sovereign is no longer only limited to the Port of Jebel Ali (main port in Dubai), but Sovereign now has the ability to gain access to all seven emirates in the UAE. This results in making its product offering more cost competitive as it reduces the cost of transport.

Sovereign Foods has also started to supply a customer in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Sovereign sees the DRC as an opportunity to expand its export product portfolio as the product requirement is different to the current basket supplied to the Middle East.

During the month of May Sovereign Foods will commission it’s brand new Further Processing Facility in Uitenhage. Once fully operational the facility will have the ability to produce in excess of 2,000 tons per month of fully cooked and coated products. This is double the existing facility’s capacity. Products produced by the new plant will include both boneless and bone-in, as well as breaded, crumbed and un-coated products.

Sovereign has been supplying two specific customers in the UAE with its cooked and coated Chicken’tizer brand for several years. Volumes have unfortunately been limited. With the commissioning of the new facility Sovereign is really excited about ramping up production and supply to not only these customers, but to additional customers throughout the Gulf Co-Operation Council (GCC) group of countries.

Over the years Sovereign has found that the quality of its Further Processed Product is as good, or even better than its international competition. In addition to superior quality Sovereign has found that we are also cost competitive. The new plant therefore has a strong foundation to increase the supply to Sovereign’s Middle Eastern export customers.

PTI Centre Launch

Propella has ushered in the new year with our brand new Propella Township Hub in the Neave Industrial Park in Korsten. The Township Hub, which is a joint initiative between Propella and SEDA, is up and running and already running a number of programmes and workshops. The new incubator has been designed to bridge the gap between technology and ease of access to entrepreneurs in the township. An official launch of the center is coming soon, but we are fully open for business!

ICT Programme Bootcamp

The Propella team hit the ground running in 2021 with preparations for our annual ICT Bootcamp which officially began on the 1st of February. With COVID-19 restrictions in place, this year’s bootcamp took place virtually and allowed prospective entrepreneurs from all over the country to apply. Out of 325 initial applicants, 107 participants completed the bootcamps with 55 of those participants successfully submitting pitch videos and progressing to stage 2 of our ICT programme.

ICT Ventures:

Get Interview

Get Interview is an online application that links organizations with the most suitable candidates whether for a Job vacancy or bursary. Get Interview uses a process called the bait induction process which ensures that all candidates that are provided to the organization are the most suitable candidates. Candidates are recruited through a virtual interview and presented in a video format to the organization.

Early this year Aphelele Sodinga (Get Interview founder) met Susan Dube from Standard Bank to assist her with recruitment for a learnership in Financial Banking to see how many candidates would make it into the interviews. Within 3 days, they managed to interview 40 candidates from different rural areas in the Eastern Cape, Northern Cape and the Free State, thus proving the efficacy of the Get Interview platform.

Specification Innovation

After completing Stage 4 of the Propella Business Incubator ICT Programme, Specification Innovation continued building their business. They have since developed a Tribology training programme geared towards engineers working in the mining environment to improve their understanding and use of lubricants. They are currently pursuing various funding/investment opportunities to enable the completion of their software development. They are also expanding their reach with their marine fuel filtration solutions tailored for the West African environment.

StoresSA

StoresSA is Africa’s 1st Online Mall for the African Fashion and Retail Industry with the aim of enabling designer brands, businesses and local retailer shops to sell products online, and for the mass customers to shop and buy online. They have partnered up with the Living and Learning Programmes Department as well as the Nelson Mandela University Fashion and Textile Department. They have gathered and donated their time and talents to raise funds for 2 deserving NMU textile and fashion design students.

The initiative is called BLACK: a passion project between Gugu Peteni and Xolela Madlanga, both who are Nelson Mandela University alumni and practicing artists who have seen and experienced a lack of financial assistance when it comes to pursuing a qualification in the creative industry. In its first day of launch, the initiative managed to raise just over R2 500.

Industrial Ventures:

Prosthetic Engineering Technologies (PET)

PET is in the process of finalising a 3rd prototype to produce a desirable, lower cost silicone liner for amputees, with a suitable shore hardness to support total comfort and reduce potential infections for the wearer. The plan moving forward is to package a micro-franchised ‘business in a box’ that supports the necessary infrastructure and business practices to mitigate against early failure.

Tofaa 

Tofaa is a technology design start up that is developing an energy efficient egg incubator for South African markets. A scaled industrial pilot study of the energy efficient egg incubators is nearing completion at the Maranatha Centre for homeless people in Gqeberha. The hatch rate efficacy is at 90%. The plan moving forward is to develop a medium sized hatchery and abattoir to provide food for the 110 people living within this socially responsible initiative and once piloted at Maranatha to expand into South Africa followed by making the solution available to small scale farmers throughout Africa.