Bata

This Mandela Day, the Bata South Africa volunteer team visited the Malvern Children's Home, a regular beneficiary of our Bata Children's Programme (BCP).

Combined with our Random Acts of Kindness initiative, it was a day all about making a difference to those who need it most.

We donated lunch bags, boxes, juice bottles, backpacks, refreshing drinks, and sweet treats – but most importantly, our time. We also helped prepare dinner, sharing a sense of community with the children.

       

We were proud to partner with Comfitex and Lion Match Brands to donate dignity packs to girls at a school close to our Loskop, KZN manufacturing facility, as part of our Toughees Random Acts of Kindness 70th anniversary celebration!

Bata is deeply invested in the well-being of children, and ensuring they have the resources they need to thrive in school is a cornerstone of our Bata Children’s Programme.

At Bata South Africa, we believe every child deserves a confident stride. That's why we’re proud to support the incredible Protea Hotels by Marriott 'Shoes for the Future' campaign by donating 100 pairs of our durable Toughees shoes.

This decade-long initiative provides new shoes to children in need near Protea's hotels around the world, and was a great fit for our Toughees 70th anniversary Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) initiative.

This month, we’re celebrating 60 years of Tomy Takkies, the proudly African footwear brand under Bata South Africa! 🎉👟

Since 1964, Tomy has been a beloved fashion staple, known for its comfortable and stylish sneakers. Beyond great footwear, Tomy also empowers local, women-led businesses through the TOMY Women.Kind initiative, and supports women across South Africa through a portion of all Tomy sales. 💪❤️

Thank you for an incredible 60 years. We couldn’t have done it without you! 🙏

This World Water Day, we’re as committed as ever to making water readily available to vulnerable local communities.

Through our Bata Children’s Programme (BCP), as well as our commemorative Toughees 70 Acts of Kindness platinum anniversary celebration, we’ll be donating an additional water storage tank to Gourton Bridge Primary School in Loskop, located close to our KZN manufacturing factory. This follows on from water solutions donated to the school and neighbouring Qhubekani Creche last year.

Together with our local communities, we’re striving to conserve this precious resource, because we know that every drop counts.

With 30,000+ team members of over 55 different nationalities serving in 70 markets, Bata is deeply entrenched in communities across the globe, and social issues and human rights are important to us.

Through initiatives such as our Bata Children’s Programme, we aim to address social challenges and uphold children's rights to Education, Health & Safety, and essential resources like nutritious food and water. We actively run different initiatives to ensure that our brands play their part in paving the way for our communities to prosper.

As we observe Human Rights Day in South Africa, we remember that every action counts. Let’s all keep playing our part in making basic rights a reality for our local communities.

This March, our iconic South African footwear brand, Tomy Takkies, hits shelves for the very first time at selected Miladys stores nationwide, marking a significant milestone as we kick off Tomy’s 60th anniversary year.

This collaboration is particularly exciting because both Tomy and Miladys are led by inspiring women who are passionate about empowering others. We believe this shared vision will resonate with our customers – stylish women who value both comfort and confidence.
The brand new Tomy AW24 collection - featuring a wide range of classic sneakers, trendy slip-ons, and cosy loafers - offers a touch of Tomy's unique charm and playful spirit.
Find your perfect pair in-store or online at selected Miladys stores, as well as Tomy’s existing line-up of other esteemed retail partners.

Introducing Gama, our new Senior Financial Accountant at Bata .

With a passion for numbers and analytical problem-solving – combined with a team-player attitude and collaborative nature – Thami is a perfect fit for his role.

He joins Bata South Africa with a wealth of experience from finance roles in the manufacturing and retail sectors, and his qualifications include a BCom Financial Accounting degree and a Post Graduate Diploma in Accounting, both from the of Cape Town.

While the opportunity to work with the finances of a multinational company poised for local expansion and growth is certainly exciting for Thami's career, what truly enticed him to join Bata Group was the chance to create a positive social impact.

“I was really taken aback when I was doing research on the company about the social impact that Bata has on the community it interacts with, especially through the Bata Children’s Programme,” he says.

“Having grown up in the township community of Hammarsdale, empowering and giving back is something I am passionate about, and I am happy that these values align with the company I am now working for,” he adds.

Thami is looking forward to a long and fruitful journey with Bata, and we are thrilled to have him onboard.

At Bata, we’re always evolving and expanding our range of footwear offerings.

This month, our international footwear label, Bata Comfit, launches a new ladies-only range exclusively at one of South Africa’s leading women’s fashion retailers.

Bata Comfit shoes are comfort-engineered, and backed by decades of expert global innovation that makes foot health a priority with every pair. Follow Bata Comfit SA for launch updates and competitions.

Join us in welcoming Van Schalkwyk, who has joined the South Africa family as our new e-Commerce Manager.

With a strong background in the retail industry, Natalie’s experience spans e-Commerce Sales and Marketing, Retail Buying and Merchandising, Planning and Digital Analytics.

She joins us from one of the country’s largest toy, clothing, and baby product retailers, and previously oversaw in-store and online campaigns for a major athletic apparel retailer, including the initial establishment of their e-Commerce business.

Natalie considers herself a team player, with excellent problem-solving skills, meticulous attention to detail, a deadline-oriented approach and the ability to thrive under pressure.

We have no doubt she will soar in the new role. All the best, Natalie!

Bata updated their business hours.

Meet Mikara Ajodha and find out what keeps her busy and engaged at Bata.

Q: What does your role at Bata involve?
I’m an Internal Auditor providing management with independent assurance on the adequacy and effectiveness of the processes, systems, and controls we have in place. I started here in March 2023.

Q: What made you decide to join the company?
I thought it was an amazing opportunity and just had to take it. I love that Bata is a global company. There are so many opportunities to grow and travel. I love that Bata cares, and they always strive to ensure that their employees are happy. I also love that Bata gives back to the community through the Bata Children’s Programme and other donations.

Fun fact about you?
I am a complete astrophile, always outside with my telescope looking for planets, constellations and more. I also I enjoy baking, reading and outdoor activities like hikes and ziplining.

Mikara holds a National Diploma in Accounting and a degree in Internal Audit from Durban University of Technology. She’s a member of the of Internal Auditors (IIA SA) and has attained competency in ISO 9001, FSSC 22000 and FSC. She’s also currently studying towards becoming a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) with the IIA SA. Someone she looks up to is her cousin, who started off her career as a sales assistant at a retail store, and is now an auditor who holds the CA(SA) designation and the only Indian female partner at her firm.

We’re proud to share that we have a new home! We had the honour of hosting Valentin, our Group Chief People Officer, as we celebrated the start of a new era in this fresh and inspiring space in La Lucia, north of Durban.

Bata is on an exciting journey of expansion, and our new Bata South Africa office will better support our collaboration, innovation, productivity and seamless global connectivity as we look to grow across Africa and the Middle East.

Located in a thriving community of international businesses, the new space provides us with enhanced accessibility and opportunities for partnerships and collaborations. It’s also close to popular shopping malls to allow us to stay connected to the retail and consumer landscape.

After an incredible five-decade run at our Pinetown facility, we’re looking forward to continued success in our new home for many years to come. Thank you to our entire South Africa head office team for helping to make the big move a success.

Introducing EcoGem, one of the five women-owned businesses we’re showcasing and supporting through our Tomy Takkies brand in honour of Women’s Month.

This remarkable small business was founded by inspiring entrepreneur, Gemma Dawn Combrinck, and is anchored by the principles of sustainability and creativity. Gemma has always had a passion for fashion and design, but was equally concerned about the growing environmental challenges our planet faced. Determined to make a difference, she set out on a mission to create a brand that would combine style with sustainability, meticulously sourcing and upcycling materials like discarded fabrics, leather offcuts, and even plastic bottles, and turning them into stunning works of art.

Read more about Gemma and EcoGem here: https://www.tomy.co.za/

Did you know that with every purchase you make of Tomy Takkies by Bata, you are not just treating yourself to something special, but also contributing towards a greater cause?

As a brand offering shoes made for women, by women, Tomy is committed to making a difference for women, too. A In honour of Women’s Month, Tomy will be spotlighting five small to medium-sized women-owned businesses in the upcoming months, as well as making a financial contribution towards them.

Stay tuned as we showcase these remarkable businesses and discover the incredible impact they are making within their communities.

We were extremely proud to be recognised as the best performing Bata company for the year to date, at the recent Bata Group Global Product Review (GPR) held in Italy.

Well done and thank you to everybody at Bata South Africa for putting in this excellent performance.

Country Manager Michael Wyatt accepted the award on our behalf, and said it was a rewarding moment for him to represent South Africa and hold the award.

“In 2019 I requested to return to Bata South Africa after six years abroad with the Bata group. I believed then, and even more so now, that the country needs skilled South Africans to return home and help steer the economy. Showing success in African markets is definitely not easy, or for the fainthearted, but it’s a beautiful place that’s full of opportunities if you have the right strategy and go for it,” said Michael.

Held twice a year, our GPR gathering enables teams from Bata operating countries to get a closer look at the collections from our international Bata team for the upcoming seasons. It’s also a platform to connect with our colleagues from other parts of the world and acquire global knowledge that we can apply in our regional markets.

Meet Muhammad Ajmal Khan. Affectionately known as “Mkhulu” by his teams, Ajmal heads up our Bata South Africa factory in Loskop, in the southern Drakensberg of the province of KwaZulu-Natal.

Here, he leverages his 28 years of experience working at various Group offices and factories around the world, to maintain efficiency in the shoe production process, while ensuring the highest quality shoes for the Africa and Middle East markets.

In his almost three decades with the Bata family, he has been selected for executive-level development and been assigned to various Bata branches around the world.

At the Loskop factory, Ajmal’s contributions over the years have resulted in improved quality in our production.

His focus presently is on Bata South Africa’s five-year growth strategy, and key to this success, he says, is our factory.

“My role is to manage production from supply chain to the manufacturing of shoes according to the right quality, the right quantity, at the right cost and delivered at the right time, while maintaining harmonious and satisfying working conditions. We aim to make our factory an example of the great family legacy that the Bata family began in 1894,” he says.

Exciting news! Our Canadian-designed footwear brand, Power Footwear, ,is now available at Mr Price Sport, !

Known for its stylish and durable athletic shoes since 1971, Power offers a wide range of shoes catering to all skill levels. The new collection at Mr Price Sport includes the Power XoRise+ and Power Plazma X500 performance shoes for both men and women, designed to inspire movement and crafted with high-quality materials.

Pop into selected Mr Price Sport stores or find the range online at mrpsport.com

Thank you East Coast Radio for enabling us to donate 300 pairs of shoes towards your "Keep A Child Warm" winter campaign!

This fantastic initiative is perfectly aligned with our Bata Children's Programme, which strives to ensure that every child is provided with opportunities to help them reach their full potential.
Bata Group

Bata South Africa is taking strides towards expansion.
Through our 2023 to 2027 strategy, which plugs into the global growth strategy of Group, we are:
- expanding our local business and increasing exports across the African market in the next five years
- introducing new collections of select international sneaker, comfort and outdoor categories to the local market, complementing over 5 million shoes manufactured locally by Bata in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and
- collaborating with the country’s biggest retail chains for added shelf space for our growing portfolio of brands in South Africa
Here’s to continued growth!

Access to water has never been more important to us than it is today in South Africa, particularly in outlying areas. In commemoration of World Water Day on 22nd March, we spent our time with Mahima Chandra, Global Head of the Bata Children's Program, at two schools close to our factory in Loskop, Kwazulu-Natal. Together with our Bata SA volunteers, the local leadership, school principal and governing body, we reflected on the needs of the Loskop community - in particular their challenges in accessing clean water and sanitation.

In response, the schools were presented with toilets, water storage tanks, water dispensers, and lunch kits from Bata, plus a supply of nutritious meals from FutureLife.

At Bata, we seek out partnerships that stretch beyond business to make a meaningful impact on communities, and foster a corporate culture of service where employees are encouraged to play an active role in making our communities safer, stronger, and more innovative. Thank you FutureLife for your contribution, and thank you to all our Bata Children's Program volunteers who came out in their numbers to join us on the day!

Last month, women across Bata came together to show support for women's rights, women's empowerment, and making a positive difference for women and girls in the communities we work in.

In commemoration of International Women's Day on 8 March, Bata women across the globe joined a conference focusing on the 2023 theme of "Embrace Equity". Discussions dove into the development of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion within our corporate culture, while the keynote address by Nathalie Baron, Leadership & Career Certified Coach and Founder of Unique Pathways Sarl, explored how best to tackle stereotypes and gender biases in the workplace.

These are issues very important to us at Bata SA, where women make up close to 80% of the workforce at our KZN manufacturing facility, impacting not only their families, but the community at large.

Locally, our Bata Children's Program volunteers also used International Women's Day to focus on our future female leaders, spending time with the lasses at Malvern's Children's Home. The girls were educated on personal hygiene and received sanitary pads from Bata SA.

Thank you to everyone who actively participated in these important engagements this month and for the commitment you have made to not only today, but every day!