Non-profit organisation (NPO) Boots for Africa have reacted to the decision that prevents them from collecting soccer boots from abroad in South Africa.
Boots for Africa is an organisation dedicated to collecting and distributing pre-owned boots to the underprivileged within the continent.
They have been doing so for the past 10 years and have to date donated over 40 000 pairs to those who can’t afford them.
WHY THEY CAN’T COLLECT SOCCER BOOTS
But in a letter dated 5 October 2022, the International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC) of South Africa notified the NPO that they were no longer allowed to outsource free second hand soccer boots and running shoes into the country.
“The Commission considered that, in view of the existing manufacturing capacity, the dtic together with the domestic manufacturers of footwear, with outer soles of rubber, plastics, leather or composition leather and uppers of leather, may assist Boots for Africa in sourcing shoes domestically,” said the dtic.
The dtic cited that the importation of free second hand boots may adversely impact South Africa’s industrial policy objective, in particular, localization and import substitution.
“The Commission also considered that SA’s footwear manufacturing capacity enhancement continued by increasing the number of factories operating, with an annual output in excess of a million pairs – from 14 companies producing 50% of local output in 2015 to 22 companies producing 60% in 2016,” they said.
WHAT BOOTS FOR AFRICA SAY
“They are happy to take the cricket bats, Tennis rackets and soccer balls and everything. But they won’t allow us to bring in shoes anymore,” chairman of Boots for Africa, Gavin Hendry told FARPost.
“They stopped us from bringing in soccer strips in 2018 now they want to stop us from bringing shoes in. Can you imagine what will happen if we can no longer give South Africa these staff? South Africa is going to lose this, but Zimbabwe is going to gain.
“I am going to take these shipments to Zimbabwe, the other shipment I am going to take to Botswana. So South Africa is now shooting themselves in the foot. They are pleading poverty and want people to help but now they are cutting our hands off,” said a fuming Hendry.
