On Thursday, August 30th 2018, Printing SA in association with Novus Holdings hosted the Deputy Minister of Telecommunications & Postal Services (Deputy Minister Stella Tembisa Ndabeni-Abrahams), Deputy Minister of Small Business Development, (Hon Cassel Mathale) and Deputy Minister of Trade Industry, (Hon Gratitude Magwanishe) at a presentation to showcase the printing and packaging industry.  

The event was attended by Printing SA Cape Town members and staff who participated in a robust discussion on how the various government departments could work with the industry to ensure its sustainability given the industries contribution to the country’s GDP and employment.  

CEO Steve Thobela welcomed the guests and emphasised the importance of such engagements in ensuring the long term sustainability of the industry.  This was followed by a warm welcome to the delegation by FP&M Seta CEO – Mrs Felleng Yende who also emphasised on the need for government to work with the private sector in order to further develop the sector as it is one that is a major contributor to our economy and with 32 of the 120 recognised trades.

This particular sector was one that needed government’s full support in developing the future employers of the new generation.  

Printing SA Acting President Mr Deon Joubert, gave a presentation on the state of the printing industry and highlighted the fact that the industry was not “dead’ but better yet it was actually thriving. Mr Joubert emphasised how the industry does not want to be seen as competing with the Digital era but better yet should be seen as one that compliments the 4th industrial revolution.  His presentation was followed by the Deputy ministers, highlighting that they acknowledge the industries contribution to the economy as it made up 2.5% of the country’s GDP and was responsible for creating 45000 direct Jobs and up to 150 000 jobs indirectly.  

The ministers were unanimous in highlighting the fact that transformation in the industry was an imperative and companies needed to seriously take on the challenge of ensuring that this was made a priority in order for the industry to thrive.  

Members had an opportunity to raise their concerns with the various departments with one of the major concerns having been the failure by the Department of Trade and Industry to recognise the sector as a priority sector particularly when members were applying for DTI grants and incentive schemes.  

The delegation was then taken on a tour of the Novus Holdings plant in Cape Town which is one of Africa’s biggest Printing and Packaging processing plants.