south africa set to revive local clothing and textile industry

In a bid to revive the ailing local clothing and textile
industry, the Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers Union (Sactwu)
has persuaded the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to insist on
locally manufactured T-shirts for next year's local government elections.

Industry insiders say the IEC's agreement with Sactwu is an important step
towards paving the way to state procurement in the local clothing and
textile industry.

Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi congratulated Sactwu at its 11th
national congress last week and said the campaign to "buy local" had
become essential in the context of the country's high unemployment rate.

"Firms wishing to tender for T-shirts to be used by (the IEC's) electoral
agents in next year's local government elections must manufacture them
locally.

It may help to save and possibly even create jobs in the local
industry," Vavi said Kate Bapela, a spokeswoman for the IEC, said the
electoral commission believed its support of the local industry would
enhance the creation or sustainability of jobs.

 It had advertised bids for the production of 210 000 T-shirts for electoral staff. "The bids will
only be awarded once the evaluation and adjudication processes have been
satisfactorily dealt with," Bapela said.