Equipping businesses is ‘material’ to growing local clothing and textile sector
28 August 2026
Cape Town’s clothing and textile manufacturing sector is gaining momentum as 40 local businesses complete the Cape Acceler8 programme with a graduation this past Wednesday, 26 August. This capacity-building initiative focuses on helping participants improve their businesses’ competitiveness, secure new orders and support job creation.
The 40 businesses in this year's Cape Acceler8 programme collectively represent more than 600 employees, with 70% based in the Cape Flats. Participating businesses have already secured R1,35 million in new and repeat orders.
The 12-month programme is delivered by the Cape Clothing and Textile Cluster and funded by the City, bringing manufacturers together with practical expertise and market insight to strengthen their operations and ability to attract new business.
Growing our local economy
Overall, the clothing and textile industry is a major employer in the manufacturing sector. It contributed R17,6 billion to the local economy in the Western Cape and had a trade balance of R3,4 billion in 2025.
Alderman James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, said clothing and textile production is one of the priority sectors for job creation and growing our local economy, with Cape Town already home to a substantial manufacturing base.
‘The City has built a wider economic development model where we work alongside industry specialists who understand their sectors inside out. Through our Special Purpose Vehicle programme, we bring that expertise together with the City’s resources and focus on sectors, including clothing and textiles, where we know there is real potential for growth, investment and jobs.
‘We can’t create every job ourselves. What we can do is work with industry, businesses and the private sector to remove some of the barriers to growth and help businesses become more competitive.
‘Our estimates indicate that around 140 million garments supplied through retailer supply chains are made here in Cape Town, more than a quarter of the 402 million garments reported by the R-CTFL Masterplan's Aggregator Process as sourced locally. That gives you a sense of the scale of what is already happening here and the opportunity we have to grow it even further. These commercial results provide a more meaningful measure of impact than simply counting how many businesses received support,’ said Alderman Vos.
Benefits for businesses
Nomgcobo Tukulula, the Creative Director and founder of Gcogco Clothing Studio, said the programme has strengthened her strategic thinking and improved the way she approaches growth.
‘It has equipped me with practical tools to refine our business processes, enhance our customer experience, and make more informed decisions. The programme has also broadened my network, exposed me to valuable mentorship, and given me greater confidence to scale the business sustainably while creating more opportunities for local employment,’ said Tukulula.
Glenda Mbeyiya, the owner of Glendzodesigns, said Acceler8 helped her gain insights into better adhering to procedure.
‘I have gained a lot of knowledge on steps to follow when manufacturing my product. Every action is important before my product goes out to the customer. I have also become more conscious when it comes to waste management. And I understand the importance of planning my day because it helps me to be more productive,’ said Mbeyiya.
Alderman Vos visited factories as part of the City’s hands-on approach to getting to know the sector better to help businesses through programmes such as Cape Acceler8.
‘I really enjoy visiting our factories, walking around the production floor, talking to the owners and employees, and seeing what businesses are producing. You get a completely different understanding of the opportunities and challenges when you are there and seeing it for yourself.
‘Cape Acceler8 is a good example of what it looks like when we get those partnerships right, bringing the City’s support together with people who understand the industry and the market.
‘With the programme now completed, the focus turns to converting the skills and capabilities developed by the participating businesses into further orders, business growth and employment opportunities across Cape Town,’ said Alderman Vos.
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Caption 1: Alderman James Vos, the Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, with business owners and 2026 graduates of the Cape Clothing and Textile Cluster's Cape Acceler8 programme.