In a powerful move to strengthen South Africa’s local manufacturing capabilities, the KwaZulu-Natal Clothing and Textile Cluster (KZNCTC) has officially launched the 2025 edition of its SME Accelerator Programme. The initiative aims to develop strategic, retail-ready suppliers for major South African retail groups, including Woolworths, Mr Price, TFG, and Pepkor Speciality.
The programme comes at a time when global supply chains remain strained due to the lingering effects of the pandemic. For South Africa’s Clothing, Textile, Footwear and Leather (CTFL) sector, this disruption has opened the door for localisation to emerge as a vital strategy—no longer just a feel-good slogan, but a necessity for supply chain resilience and sustainable growth.
According to Kyle Ballard, Head of SME Development at KZNCTC, local sourcing in the CTFL sector has surged by 58% since 2019. “Retailers that usually compete fiercely are now united by a shared goal—to transform and localise their supply chains. This Accelerator helps connect them with emerging manufacturers ready to scale,” he said.
The SME Accelerator, now in its third iteration, is backed by the eThekwini Municipality’s Economic Development Programmes Unit. It provides small manufacturers with hands-on support in meeting retail standards, accessing new markets, and securing the capital investments needed to expand their operations.
Nelisiwe Magubane, Programme Manager for CTFL at the eThekwini Municipality, emphasized the impact of this public-private collaboration: “The Accelerator demonstrates the power of partnership between government and industry. It creates real opportunities for small businesses to actively participate in the economy.”
Applications for the 2025 Accelerator are now open, with retailers seeking suppliers in specific categories including:
- Ladies’ and men’s outerwear
- Babywear
- Hosiery and legwear
- Leather goods and accessories
- Grass bags
- Technical sports footwear
- Denim
Eligible businesses must be South African-owned, at least 51% Black-owned, have a turnover of R50 million or less, and be tax compliant and operational for at least two years.
For local CTFL SMEs, this is a unique opportunity to break into major retail supply chains and scale sustainably.
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