IF you are an exporter, avoid the South African Department of Trade and Industry, the South African High Commission in New Delhi or Bombay and the South African Foreign Trade Organisation (SAFTO) which are geared exclusively for promoting exports from South Africa. They will at best redirect your inquiries to the Indian Consulate in Johannesburg.
The South African Chamber of Business (SACOB) and other regional chambers represent essentially white English-speaking businessmen despite protestations to the contrary. The Afrikaanse Handels Institut is a chamber representing white Afrikaner businesses. Most chambers are organised on racial lines. These chambers are helpful in arranging, for a price, briefings and meetings for important business delegations. Advance notice (at least eight weeks) is required.
The Indian Consulate in Johannesburg coordinates all commercial matters between India and South Africa while the Consulate in Durban makes arrangements for business delegations visiting Durban. The Consulate in Johannesburg provides lists of importers, arranges appointments for business delegations, organises buyer-seller meets, provides economic and commercial information on South Africa and can arrange small exhibitions on its own premises provided advance notice is given.
There are barely a few dozen importers of textiles, garments and leather in South Africa. With the country having opened up recently, a flood of exporters from all over the world are contacting the same few companies. They are therefore extremely selective in their response. These companies also exhibit a marked preference to deal directly with the manufacturer rather than with an intermediary.