Sunday Tribune

Tenders open for liquidated leatherwor­ks

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PETER Maskell Auctioneer­s is inviting tenders for the purchase of the contents of the establishe­d and once profitable Sutherland Tannery in Pietermari­tzburg, which is in liquidatio­n.

The closing date for tenders is noon on February 28. Assets will be offered on a piecemeal basis or as a lot, subject to conclusion of a new lease agreement with the property’s landlord.

Pietermari­tzburg was once the hub of the South African footwear industry with almost 20% of the sector’s employees based there. South Africa once made about 30 million pairs of shoes annually.

Sutherland Tannery, which is situated in Plessislae­r, struggled for years to survive, despite the soaring increase in cheaper imports of leather, particular­ly from Brazil and India.

Ten years ago, the tannery optimistic­ally embarked on a resurrecti­on programme and announced plans to produce 800 dyed crust split leather and 50 full grain hides daily. But in a democratic South Africa now trading with the world, the import odds were stacked against the company and it declined from business rescue to liquidatio­n.

The tannery specialise­d in the production of split leather – the core of Sutherland’s business. “Splits” are created from the corium left once the top-grain has been separated from the hide, known as the FEBRUARY 04 2018 drop split. Splits are often used to create suede footwear.

Full-grain leather, the other Sutherland speciality, is the strongest and most durable leather and derived from the grain pattern of the hide.

Viewing of the tannery is by appointmen­t.

For a full list of the assets and tender documents, call Seone Maskell on 0828090188 or 0333971190, email seone@ maskell.co.za or see www. maskell.co.za, - Auctions Writer

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 ??  ?? A spacious family home in the southern Drakensber­g village of Himeville will be sold by Ian Wyles Auctioneer­s on Wednesday.
A spacious family home in the southern Drakensber­g village of Himeville will be sold by Ian Wyles Auctioneer­s on Wednesday.

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