The Southern African Clothing & Textile Workers’ Union (SACTWU), affiliated with the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), has officially welcomed the signing of the Retail–Clothing, Textile, Footwear & Leather (R-CTFL) Masterplan — a landmark initiative designed to support long-term growth, protect local manufacturers, and strengthen sustainability across South Africa’s textile and apparel value chain.
A Strategic Blueprint to Strengthen South Africa’s CTFL Sector
Signed during the 2nd Presidential Investment Conference in Sandton, Gauteng, the masterplan brings together leading CTFL retailers, manufacturers, labour unions, and the South African government in a coordinated effort to revitalise one of the country’s most important industrial sectors.
SACTWU expressed strong support for several core commitments included in the agreement. One of the most notable is the government’s pledge to enhance the inspection and compliance capabilities of the South African Revenue Service (SARS). This step aims to curb illegal imports, under-invoicing, and unfair trade practices that have undermined local producers for years.
Major South African retailers have also committed to significant shifts in procurement policy — increasing their local sourcing of clothing, textiles, footwear, and leather (CTFL) products to up to 65%, a move expected to stimulate domestic manufacturing.
On the production side, CTFL manufacturers have agreed to invest further in modernising factories, upgrading machinery, and improving competitiveness to meet growing local demand and global standards.
The R-CTFL Masterplan sets an ambitious goal: the creation of more than 70,000 new manufacturing jobs through coordinated action, strengthened enforcement, and improved local value addition.
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