Made in SA April 2019

ADVERTORIAL

QUALITY PRODUCER
OF THE NOBLE FIBRE

S outh African Mohair Industries Limited (SAMIL) was formed in 1992. is that SAMIL is able to o er lots guaranteed from origin – a rare luxury in
Primarily a mohair trader and processor, SAMIL’s ambitions have reached today’s business environment.
far beyond this activity, and it now sees itself as the link between Spinning & Dyeing: Although we specialise in pure mohair, we also blend
mohair producers, processors and consumers. SAMIL’s vision is to be mohair with a range of other natural and man-made bres. Yarns can be custom
an innovative South African company specialising in the production and dyed to any shade at Samil’s state of the art dyehouse.
processing of natural bres, as well as speciality spun yarns. Genetic research: ANGELA - Angora Genetics Laboratory was established
in 2013.  
• SAMIL spinning is a global manufacturer of outstanding quality ANGELA has as its objective the improvement of hair yield for the Mohair
mohair yarns, producing a wide and exclusive range of mohair and Industry. This is achieved by using controlled breeding techniques to improve
mohair-blended fancy and ne-spun yarns in both ne-count and aspects as diverse as, increased kidding rates, micronaire value of the hair
coarser varieties. grown, total usable hair per goat. All aspects combine to achieve the ultimate
aim of increased hair yield per goat and ock. The project makes its results freely
• SAMIL is internationally renowned for its superior product range and available to all in the Mohair Farming Community.
caters for the hand-knitting, machine-knitting, weaving, hosiery and
decor markets. Our hand knitting brand African Expressions was born out of the desire to
share Africa’s natural beauty with the rest of the world. Through our unique
DIVISIONS range of yarns, we express the essence of that which makes Africa magical.
Using our noble bres to create yarns which are naturally soft to the touch, easy
Farming: Samil Farming was established in 2011, with the primary objective to knit and luxuriously versatile.
of stabilising and possibly increasing mohair supply to the processors, and,
secondly to show Samil’s commitment to the Mohair Industry. OUR AIM
Combing: In 1987, SAMIL established its own combing plant, Border Combing
Company, in Berlin, outside East London in the Eastern Cape, now known as • Through its involvement in all aspects of
SAMIL Natural Fibres Combing. As mohair processing has decreased in other the industry, SAMIL’s aim is to provide a
areas of the world, SAMIL Combing, as it is now known, has become one of the sustainable, a ordable, superior quality
world’s leading processors of mohair. Unlike many processing plants around the product to the world, showcasing not only
world SAMIL Combing is committed to processing only mohair. the product, but also the industry, country
Trading: From being primarily a greasy mohair trader, SAMIL has, through a of origin and individuals participating in the
strong support base of a liated companies, partners and agents, established production of the bre.
strong connections throughout the world for the purchase and sale of raw
materials and nished goods. Although mohair is produced in various parts of • With a dynamic and innovative team that
the world, South Africa processes in excess of 80 per cent of the world’s mohair embraces change and progress, SAMIL
production. The advantage of having both top-making and spinning operations anticipates a strong and bright future.
in South Africa, as well as access to raw material produced within the company,

Contact details:

+27 (041) 486 2430
[email protected]
www.samil.co.za



ARTS

SPEAKING
MY LANGUAGE

Reading in their home language makes it much easier for
children to learn, Tiisetso Tlelima finds out more

C hildren who learn to read and are taught in their own language THREE OF THE BEST
have a better chance of academic success than those who CHILDREN’S BOOKS IN
are taught exclusively in English or another second language. AFRICAN LANGUAGES
The research on the subject from all over the world is close to
unanimous, writes Dr Fred Genesee, a psychology professor at “Language is a very important aspect of
McGill University in Montreal, in his article “The Home Language: The English
Learner’s Most Valuable Resource”, and long understood – although it rarely who we are as a people,” she says. Mookodi, a
finds its way into educational policy.

Phumla Khumalo, author of Ilanga and founder of the Kiddies Book Lab,
agrees, pointing out that in South Africa’s context, children who enter schools

with poor skills in listening, speaking
and processing of words in their own
home languages experience academic
difficulties. Khumalo believes that
learning to read in their own language
not only gives a child the opportunity to

KHUMALO BELIEVES THAT drama graduate, decided to start a company 1
LEARNING TO READ IN THEIR OWN that publishes children’s books after working for
LANGUAGE NOT ONLY GIVES A CHILD years in the advertising industry. She realised that Letsatsi la ditshwantsho
THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS young copywriters were struggling to read in their written by
THEMSELVES, BUT ALSO CONNECTS mother tongue and could not write copy in African
THEM TO THEIR CULTURE. Mmabotseba Kobeli.

languages. She was concerned that African

languages were dying out and wanted to create a

platform where children can find and read books

PHUMLA KHUMALO in any of the African languages.

express themselves, but also connects them to their culture, ensures better One of the biggest challenges is the 2
availability of reading material. Mookodi says
cognitive development and aids in the learning of other languages. things are slowly changing, and there are Many ways to
initiatives promoting the reading of children’s say hello written by
“I will echo [Kenyan writer] Ngugi wa Thiong’o’s sentiments and say, if books in African languages such as the Abantu Refiloe Moahlodi.

you know all the languages of the world, but not your mother tongue that is

enslavement. Knowing your mother tongue and all other languages that is Book Festival, SA Bookfair, EthiniKids and

empowerment,” says Khumalo. “Reading in home languages has a positive ToysWithRoots. However, she thinks it’s too

effect on children’s development as they are educated in a language they earIy to measure the success rate of these

understand most.” DIMAKATSO organisations as it’s only been a decade since
Owner of publishing MOOKODI
some of the initiatives were started. 3
and production house Khumalo cites Nali’Bali as an initiative that
Molemi ya bitswang
Peo Literature, Dimakatso stands out. It organises a national Read For kahano written by
Enjoyment campaign aimed at sparking children’s Dimakatso Mookodi.
Mookodi, thinks that learning

to read in a mother tongue potential through storytelling and reading. The

Images: iStockphoto and Supplied gives children a sense of organisation also encourages storytellers and literacy activists from different

identity and belonging. communities across the country to bring stories and books to children

through their Funda Leader campaign. Additionally, Nali’Bali works with many

“LANGUAGE IS A VERY partners to strengthen multilingual literacy through advocacy, training and
IMPORTANT ASPECT OF
WHO WE ARE AS A PEOPLE.” support of reading clubs.

Big publishing houses such as Jacana Media also work with Nali’Bali,

PRAESA, Biblionef, Room to Read, SmartStart and many NGOs or literacy

organisations to make books available to children in a range of languages. ■

MADE IN SA 51