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 AND VICE 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.
SANJAY PATTUNDEEN
Director of Caprini Footwear, Vice Chairman
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Denzil Spolander
Director at Fusion Leather World
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
Loshni Rishidaw
Director at Smileys Footwear (Pty) Ltd and BVLK Apparel and Accessories
With her vast knowledge and expertise in the field, she pilots this business to newer horizons. She has brought on a strong foundation, leadership and advanced technical skills that have proved to be priceless to the triumph of the company.
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.
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.
SANJAY PATTUNDEEN
Director of Caprini Footwear, Vice Chairman
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.
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.
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.
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.
VODEN WEARNE
Sales Manager Hopewell Footwear
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.
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.
Denzil Spolander
Director at Fusion Leather World
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
Loshni Rishidaw
Director at Smileys Footwear (Pty) Ltd and BVLK Apparel and Accessories
With her vast knowledge and expertise in the field, she pilots this business to newer horizons. She has brought on a strong foundation, leadership and advanced technical skills that have proved to be priceless to the triumph of the company.
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.