About Us
Promoting
South African Craftsmanship to the World
SAFLEC strives to ensure that its members register with the National Bargaining Council of the Leather Industry aligning themselves with the International Labour Organisation rules and regulations.
The South African Footwear and Leather Export Council is the recognised body representing and promoting the South African footwear, leather, handbags, belts and allied industries in international markets.
ETHEKWINI MUNICIPALITY
eThekwini and SAFLEC have joined forces to bring to the eThekwini regional manufacturers, eThekwini Footwear and Leather Cluster aimed at empowering local manufacturers with targeted skills and competencies to enable manufacturing growth and export development.
To read more about this project and benefits included click the button below:
“OUR MISSION IS TO GLOBALISE THE SOUTH AFRICAN FOOTWEAR AND LEATHER GOODS INDUSTRY”
MEET OUR TEAM
CHAIRPERSON
TAVONGA GONYORA
Chairman
Mr Gonyora is a senior fashion retail and manufacturer merchandise & marketing professional with several years management experience and a strong track record implementing robust and profitable retail merchandise strategic and tactical plans.
Experience is predominantly within the retail sector, working at a national level for a major retail group within Africa. He has complimentary exposure in the FMCG sector. Business capabilities include managing and coordinating retail operations, management and the continuous improvement of the merchandise supply chain processes to maximise operational performance and manage costs. Tavonga has branched into manufacturing where he heads up product development, domestic and regional sales and marketing across Africa.
CO-VICE CHAIRPERSONS
TVEN HEYER
Board Member, BBF Safety Group
Tven Heyer is a Marketing graduate with an extensive knowledge of brand & retail management, as well as business development, having spent 8 years at Reebok South Africa prior to joining the BBF Safety Group.
During his time at Reebok, he was also responsible for driving business beyond South Africa into some of the neighbouring SADC countries. Tven joined the BBF Safety Group in May 2015, setting-up a fully-fledged Exports Division, whilst further learning the complexities of exports, specifically into Africa.
TAMBURAI CHIRUME
Co-founder of ONEOFEACH
Tamburai Chirume is the co-founder of the mother and daughter design collaboration, ONEOFEACH – an African luxury brand that focuses on luxury leather and African inspired handbags, fashion accessories, apparel and home decor designed in Cape Town.
She is an award-winning exporter having received South Africa’s exporter of the year to the USA under AGOA in 2021 and again in 2022. Tamburai is a social entrepreneur that is passionate about empowerment, innovation, diversity and transformation. She is the founder of a Nationwide program called the Business of Creative Entrepreneurship supported by the US Embassy of South Africa which coaches and guides creative women business owners to become global players in the market through exporting. The BCE Program has successfully trained over 300 Women since 2018. Tamburai is also a proud 2017 alumna of the African Women Entrepreneur Program run by the U.S.Department of State.
EXECUTIVE
NERISHA JAIRAJ
Executive Director
Nerisha Jairaj comes with a BTech Honours in Business Administration and MBA Organisational Behaviour, Strategy and General (ongoing), 20 years of export, procurement and international trade experience.
In August 2014 Nerisha Jairaj joined SAFLEC as the New Executive Manager and was promoted to Executive Director in 2015. Nerisha Jairaj now heads SAFLEC under the guidance of the SAFLEC Board of Directors.
BOARD MEMBERS
VODEN WEARNE
Sales Manager Hopewell Footwear
Born in 1976, Voden started his Career in the supply chain and worked his way up in the footwear industry and has a wealth of knowledge from a supply point as well as manufacturing side.
He joined Hopewell Footwear in 2019 and has helped local brands achieve great export volumes with his knowledge and expertise. Voden has worked right through the value chain of leather, machinery, components and consumables. He currently works in Sales and Development at Hopewell Footwear.
ROLLAND EBORU
Managing Executive at Fred Footwear
Born in 1979, Rolland is the Managing Executive at Fred Footwear, a footwear manufacturer and apparel retailer situated in the Eastern Cape. Prior to this Rolland was Head of Products at ICICI International Banking Group – India’s largest private sector Bank. He was also a product specialist at STANLIB Asset Management.
DORAN SUBIAH
Textile Industry Leader
Doran Subiah, a seasoned textile industry leader with over 20 years' integrated financial and HR expertise. His hands-on experience driving financial sustainability, robust industrial relations, and ethical, Ubuntu-based leadership within manufacturing directly supports SAFLEC's mission of fostering a resilient, responsible, and collaboratively driven South African textile sector.
Doran excels at stakeholder engagement and strategic risk management, skills vital for advancing industry growth.
BALVAN RISHIDAW
Managing Director of Smiley’s Footwear
Balvan Rishidaw is the Managing Director of Smiley’s Footwear, a South African footwear manufacturing company producing a wide range of fashion footwear for leading local and international retailers. In his short tenure, Balvan has played a key role in building strong relationships with major South African chain stores while driving the company’s growth into global export markets.
He holds a Bachelor of Business Science with Honours in Economics from the University of Cape Town and brings expertise in manufacturing, supply chain management, corporate sales, and market development to the Council. Balvan is passionate about promoting the competitiveness of South Africa’s footwear and leather industry and supporting initiatives that drive trade growth and global positioning.
DENZIL SPOLANDER
Director at Fusion Leather World
Born in 1964, joined the leather industry in 1987 with Mossop Leather before entering independent business and found African Gameskin Group in 1998 and Fusion Leather World in 2005.
The business is solely in tanning and wholesale of finished leather, with a tannery in Atlantis under the Fusion Leather World banner and wholesale enterprises through African Gameskin Group in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg, with international distributors in England, Australia, Canada and Israel
SANJAY PATTUNDEEN
Co-opted Board Member
Born in 1963, Sanjay found Caprini Footwear in 1992. Caprini Footwear (Pty) Ltd is part of the Palm Group of Companies. Although the majority of products are consumed locally, the company is fast increasing export quantities.
STAFF
PRENISHA DUKHIPERSAD
Finance & Admin Manager
Prenisha Dukhipersad joined the SAFLEC team in 2016 as a Personal Assistant. In 2020, she transitioned into the role of Finance Administrator and currently serves as the Finance & Admin Manager. Prenisha holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree with majors in Marketing, Management & Finance.
SARAH LISSANNE GOVENDER
Senior Personal Assistant and EFLC Project Officer
Sarah started at SAFLEC in March 2019 as PA to the Executive Director. She was promoted to Senior PA and EFLC Project Officer in March 2025. Sarah comes from an administration and footwear background.
STAKEHOLDERS
NBCLI
National Bargaining Council of Leather Industry
SACTWU
South African Clothing &Textile Workers Union
NULAW
National Union of Leather & Allied Workers
TAVONGA GONYORA
Chairman
Mr Gonyora is a senior fashion retail and manufacturer merchandise & marketing professional with several years management experience and a strong track record implementing robust and profitable retail merchandise strategic and tactical plans.
Experience is predominantly within the retail sector, working at a national level for a major retail group within Africa. He has complimentary exposure in the FMCG sector. Business capabilities include managing and coordinating retail operations, management and the continuous improvement of the merchandise supply chain processes to maximise operational performance and manage costs. Tavonga has branched into manufacturing where he heads up product development, domestic and regional sales and marketing across Africa.
TVEN HEYER
Board Member, BBF Safety Group
Tven Heyer is a Marketing graduate with an extensive knowledge of brand & retail management, as well as business development, having spent 8 years at Reebok South Africa prior to joining the BBF Safety Group.
During his time at Reebok, he was also responsible for driving business beyond South Africa into some of the neighbouring SADC countries. Tven joined the BBF Safety Group in May 2015, setting-up a fully-fledged Exports Division, whilst further learning the complexities of exports, specifically into Africa.
TAMBURAI CHIRUME
Co-founder of ONEOFEACH
Tamburai Chirume is the co-founder of the mother and daughter design collaboration, ONEOFEACH – an African luxury brand that focuses on luxury leather and African inspired handbags, fashion accessories, apparel and home decor designed in Cape Town.
She is an award-winning exporter having received South Africa’s exporter of the year to the USA under AGOA in 2021 and again in 2022. Tamburai is a social entrepreneur that is passionate about empowerment, innovation, diversity and transformation. She is the founder of a Nationwide program called the Business of Creative Entrepreneurship supported by the US Embassy of South Africa which coaches and guides creative women business owners to become global players in the market through exporting. The BCE Program has successfully trained over 300 Women since 2018. Tamburai is also a proud 2017 alumna of the African Women Entrepreneur Program run by the U.S.Department of State.
NERISHA JAIRAJ
Executive Director
Nerisha Jairaj comes with a BTech Honours in Business Administration and MBA Organisational Behaviour, Strategy and General (ongoing), 20 years of export, procurement and international trade experience.
In August 2014 Nerisha Jairaj joined SAFLEC as the New Executive Manager and was promoted to Executive Director in 2015. Nerisha Jairaj now heads SAFLEC under the guidance of the SAFLEC Board of Directors.
VODEN WEARNE
Sales Manager Hopewell Footwear
Born in 1976, Voden started his Career in the supply chain and worked his way up in the footwear industry and has a wealth of knowledge from a supply point as well as manufacturing side.
He joined Hopewell Footwear in 2019 and has helped local brands achieve great export volumes with his knowledge and expertise. Voden has worked right through the value chain of leather, machinery, components and consumables. He currently works in Sales and Development at Hopewell Footwear.
ROLLAND EBORU
Managing Executive at Fred Footwear
Born in 1979, Rolland is the Managing Executive at Fred Footwear, a footwear manufacturer and apparel retailer situated in the Eastern Cape. Prior to this Rolland was Head of Products at ICICI International Banking Group – India’s largest private sector Bank. He was also a product specialist at STANLIB Asset Management.
DORAN SUBIAH
Textile Industry Leader
Doran Subiah, a seasoned textile industry leader with over 20 years' integrated financial and HR expertise. His hands-on experience driving financial sustainability, robust industrial relations, and ethical, Ubuntu-based leadership within manufacturing directly supports SAFLEC's mission of fostering a resilient, responsible, and collaboratively driven South African textile sector.
Doran excels at stakeholder engagement and strategic risk management, skills vital for advancing industry growth.
BALVAN RISHIDAW
Managing Director of Smiley’s Footwear
Balvan Rishidaw is the Managing Director of Smiley’s Footwear, a South African footwear manufacturing company producing a wide range of fashion footwear for leading local and international retailers. In his short tenure, Balvan has played a key role in building strong relationships with major South African chain stores while driving the company’s growth into global export markets.
He holds a Bachelor of Business Science with Honours in Economics from the University of Cape Town and brings expertise in manufacturing, supply chain management, corporate sales, and market development to the Council. Balvan is passionate about promoting the competitiveness of South Africa’s footwear and leather industry and supporting initiatives that drive trade growth and global positioning.
DENZIL SPOLANDER
Director at Fusion Leather World
Born in 1964, joined the leather industry in 1987 with Mossop Leather before entering independent business and found African Gameskin Group in 1998 and Fusion Leather World in 2005.
The business is solely in tanning and wholesale of finished leather, with a tannery in Atlantis under the Fusion Leather World banner and wholesale enterprises through African Gameskin Group in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg, with international distributors in England, Australia, Canada and Israel
SANJAY PATTUNDEEN
Co-opted Board Member
Born in 1963, Sanjay found Caprini Footwear in 1992. Caprini Footwear (Pty) Ltd is part of the Palm Group of Companies. Although the majority of products are consumed locally, the company is fast increasing export quantities.
PRENISHA DUKHIPERSAD
Finance & Admin Manager
Prenisha Dukhipersad joined the SAFLEC team in 2016 as a Personal Assistant. In 2020, she transitioned into the role of Finance Administrator and currently serves as the Finance & Admin Manager. Prenisha holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree with majors in Marketing, Management & Finance.
SARAH LISSANNE GOVENDER
Senior Personal Assistant and EFLC Project Officer
Sarah started at SAFLEC in March 2019 as PA to the Executive Director. She was promoted to Senior PA and EFLC Project Officer in March 2025. Sarah comes from an administration and footwear background.
NBCLI
National Bargaining Council of Leather Industry
NBCLI stands for the National Bargaining Council for the Leather Industry in South Africa.
It is a statutory bargaining council established under the Labour Relations Act (LRA), and its core role is to regulate employment conditions within the leather and leather-related manufacturing sectors.
Contact Details
Email: admin@nbcli.co.za
Contact Number: 031 305 8230
SACTWU
South African Clothing &Textile Workers Union
The Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers' Union (SACTWU) is the biggest union in the South African clothing, textile, footwear and leather industry, with more than 100 000 members. It negotiates wages for the vast majority of workers in these industries in South Africa, with the collective bargaining agreements covering over 150 000 workers.
SACTWU is the sixth largest affiliate of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU). The union was born through the merger of the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers' Union of South Africa and the Garment and Allied Workers' Union of South Africa, on 16 September 1989.
Contact Details
Email: headoffice@sactwu.org.za
Contact Number: 021 015 5392
NULAW
National Union of Leather & Allied Workers
NULAW stands for the National Union of Leather and Allied Workers in South Africa. It is the trade union representing workers in the leather, footwear, handbags, luggage, and related manufacturing industries. NULAW’s role is to protect and advance the rights of workers in the sector.
Contact Details
Email: ashley@nulaw.co.za |karen@nulaw.co.za
Contact Number: 021 911 2449
Durban H/Office number : 031 206 0105