South African Business 2019 edition

to support the Black Industrialist Programme to
help existing entrepreneurs grow.
Additive manufacturing is receiving support
from the state through the Department of Science
and Technology and a strategic business unit with
a focus on new industries at the dti. Additive manufacturing
uses 3D data.
The main sectors receiving support (and R358-
million in public money has been invested in research
since 2014) are jewellery, tooling, medical
and dental and aerospace. Products such as titanium
medical implants and aerospace components
have come out of the programme.
The Centre for Advanced Manufacturing
(CFAM) is housed at North-West University in
Potchefstroom. The centre specialises in extruder
technology, an important component in
the food-manufacturing process. CFAM works
with Gaborona Consulting, the Vaal University of
Technology, Thripp (a dti technology programme)
and ChemCity, an initiative of Sasol.
Metals
Among other important sectors are metals beneficiation
(more than 50% of the world’s ferrochrome
is produced in South Africa), coke and
refined petroleum products and information and
communication technology. Steel and petroleum
collectively make up about 45% of South Africa’s
total manufacturing production capacity.
Steel has been experiencing a volatile few
years, with reduced demand from China severely
reducing production volumes in South Africa. The
Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of
Southern Africa (Seifsa) reported that 19 000 jobs
were lost in the metals and engineering sector in
the nine months to September 2016. New import
tariffs of 25% imposed by US President Trump will
further hurt the SA steel sector.
This sector makes up 28% of manufacturing
in the country. The country consumes about 150
000 tons of stainless steel every year. South Africa
makes about 500 000 tons of primary stainless
steel (most of which is exported) and imports a
further 40 000 tons.
OVERVIEW
SOLUTIONS FOR AFRICA
Modern manufacturers are coming up with ways
to improve efficiency. In Africa, water saving and
conservation is becoming a vital part of doing
business.
Marley Pipe Systems has released a revolutionary
new hot and cold water supply solution called Profit.
Not only is Pro-fit made from the highest grade
PE-RT (Polyethylene with Raised Temperature
Resistance), which reduces loss through punctures
and tears, but it also reduces installation costs
by 50% and is resistant to corrosion and impact.
Water passing through the system is healthier
and by avoiding the use of metal any scrap value is
eliminated, thus making the product more secure.
The recent extended drought has reminded all
South Africans of how fragile water supply can
be. The Marley Vynadeep® Rainwater System
efficiently channels roofwater into tanks,
reducing demand on ground water and supplying
vital back-up for individual private or corporate
premises.
Marley Pipe Systems is active in several parts
of Africa and with an increased uptake in the use of
gas, Marley’s presence is growing. As big retailers
expand their footprints in Namibia, Mozambique
and Malawi, so Marley distributes larger volumes
through those channels. With the mining sectors
of countries such as Zambia, Tanzania and the DRC
showing signs of recovery, so the gas market is
growing further still.
Cheap imports have been at the heart of problems for
the steel sector, as they have for textiles, but other issues
include energy prices and labour costs.
The dti has moved to try to protect the local steel
industry by regulating the use in the construction sector
of locally produced and manufactured steel and steel
products. Another possible intervention is related to
109 SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2019