The local furniture industry has been earmarked by the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) as a catalyst to help foster employment opportunities and boost exports for the country following the implementation of the Furniture Industry Master Plan.
Speaking in Port Elizabeth last week, Ncumisa Mcata-Mhlauli, dti director of Agro-processing, said that the latest master plan would help local producers eliminate past challenges, as well elevate the South African furniture industry’s export market, which currently imports way more goods than what it exports.
“The industry has been battered by challenges in the past few years which include, overpricing of raw materials, capital investment, access to market, competition from cheaper imports, issues around skills development - especially design and technical skills, which resulted in its overall workforce declining from 50 000 in 2009 to just over 26 000 in 2018,” said Mcata-Mhlauli.
The local industry exported R3.9bn worth of goods in 2019, while importing a whopping R6.9bn worth of furniture, predominantly from China.
She said more work needed to be done to promote the industry, particularly in rural areas where informal furniture businesses were booming.
“Industries like furniture are very attractive to the youth. In most townships informal businesses are booming in the furniture industry,” she added. “As government we need to develop strategies to respond to those who are starting production in their backyards to help them to grow and make sure they contribute to the local economy.” – Bjorn Vorster
