Japanese Ambassador to South Africa, Toshiro Ozawa was the guest of honour at the 30^th Miyuki champion awards, which recognize excellence in mohair production in Port Elizabeth on Thursday night.

“While we welcome the news surrounding the 12 sectors that have been identified for developmental finance in South Africa, more clarity is needed in terms of which sub-sectors will benefit and when the actual finance will become available.�...

says Deon Saayman, general manager for Mohair South Africa (MSA). Saayman was referring to Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies’ announcement of the government’s industrial policy action plan. 
 
As the representative organization for the South African Mohair Industry, Saayman wonders why agro-processing as an industry sector, for instance, is only focused on food security:

“Our constituency is responsible for a fair amount of export revenue, as well employment and yet we are under pressure as the international recession has taken its toll on our sector and it is very difficult to attract young talent and energy to the textile and agriculture sectors.�

Saayman also touched on the clothing and textile sectors, which Davies also identified as part of the action plan, explaining that Southern Africa produces more than 75 percent of the world production of mohair.

South Africa also plays a vital role in that the bulk of the rest of the world’s mohair is imported to South Africa to be washed and combed. “The fact is that the majority of the mohair fibre produced is exported, and because of a lack of infrastructure and expertise to beneficiate, that is the last that the country sees of it. There is an opportunity here to kick-start those industry sectors via the mohair supply chain, that have been identified.�
 
Mohair South Africa will be engaging the minister and the dti to determine how they can work together to ensure a sustainable mohair Industry.

International trend forecaster Li Edelkoort will be talking about mohair in a series of workshops starting on 10 February.

It’s all in the socks, or more accurately, it’s all in what the socks are made of. Ask any of the runners of the wild run , the three-day stage race between Kei Mouth and Hole in the Wall in the Transkei region, late last year.