Our History

EVA Components (Pty) Ltd is established by Budget Footwear (Pty) Ltd (Budget) to produce EVA-based footwear sheeting for Budget’s own consumption. Up to this point, Budget’s footwear sheeting is imported from Taiwan, and localising production is a logical decision. EVA Components (Pty) Ltd grows and broadens its product offering to supply other sectors, such as the shoe repair, orthopaedic and industrial markets. The company is based in Milner Street, Jacobs, Durban South, and employs approximately 40 staff.

EVA Components (Pty) Ltd amalgamates with Bata Shoe Company (Pty) Ltd (Bata) to form one company, now called EVA Industries (Pty) Ltd (EVA). Bata moves its Loskop-based plant to the existing EVA manufacturing plant in Milner Street, Jacobs, Durban South.

With Budget controlling 100% of the shareholding, the company operates under the directorship of Rudi Geyser as Managing Director, who acquires 50% of the shareholding in EVA, and Brandon Geyser, who assumes the position of Sales Director. EVA starts supplying soling material, injection moulded components and upper materials to other shoe factories in order to increase turnover. The local footwear market is stimulated by EVA’s supply, as footwear manufacturers can source locally produced materials.

Rudi Geyser and Brandon Geyser acquire the remaining shares through a further management buyout from Budget. The next seven years prove to be the most difficult era in the company’s history to date, as South African retailers go offshore in search of cheaper, imported footwear. As EVA’s customer base starts to rapidly erode, with overhead costs escalating, the directors decide that a sole focus on footwear is too risky and seek diversification into other markets. EVA purchases its first Double Blown (2-Stage) Foaming Press, with the intention of supplying the agricultural, automotive and industrial sectors of the economy. EVA employs approximately 150 staff.

Rudi Geyser disposes of his 50% shareholding in EVA to John Moffat Prolock (Pty) Ltd (JMP), a converter company of industrial materials, and retires. JMP purchases a further 1% from Brandon Geyser, resulting in a new shareholding structure of 51% JMP and 49% Brandon Geyser. With JMP’s influence, combined with new directors on the board, EVA starts to focus more on industrial customers, resulting in a more balanced turnover mix between footwear and industrial customers. EVA starts supplying a European-based company specialising in podiatry insole materials, which supplies Central Europe. EVA achieves ISO 9001 accreditation.

EVA acquires Natal Gaskets (Pty) Ltd (NG), a company that specialises in converting materials and gaskets for the industrial and automotive sectors, as part of its strategy to grow its industrial customer base.

Around 2013, South African retailers start realising that they have forfeited quick response times and delivery flexibility in favour of price, and begin looking for local manufacturers. Foreign companies’ minimum order quantities become less sustainable, quick replenishment becomes the new retail buzzword, and EVA is conveniently positioned to manufacture for this new retail model.

EVA disposes of NG as JMP undertakes a restructuring of its holdings.

Endura Capital purchases 50% of EVA Industries (Pty) Ltd, and Brandon Geyser purchases a further 1% from JMP. This forms part of a management buyout resulting from JMP rationalising its investment entities. EVA continues to focus its production on the growing direct footwear supply market as retailers buy more locally. EVA starts building direct relationships with Edgars, Mr Price Group and Woolworths as a preferred local supplier of beach thongs (flip flops). EVA continues supplying all existing industrial, component and converter companies that are exposed to the agricultural, automotive, mining and building industry sectors. EVA becomes SEDEX-accredited, adding to the ISO 9001 accreditation that it maintains. EVA grows its footwear manufacturing capacity to approximately 100,000 pairs per month and employs approximately 220 staff.

EVA grows its beach thong capacity through further supply relationships with Retailability (Pty) Ltd and The Foschini Group Limited (TFG), as local retailers continue to support local manufacturing. EVA commences producing materials for a US-based manufacturer of nail buffers and sanding blocks. EVA grows its footwear manufacturing capacity to approximately 200,000 pairs per month and employs approximately 300 staff.

EVA concludes a minority sale of shares to a South African-based education trust (The Sidala Trust) as part of its commitment to meeting legislative BBBEE requirements. EVA remains the preferred supplier to local and international converter clients, having maintained relationships for more than 15 years in many instances. EVA's footwear manufacturing capacity ranges from 300,000 to 400,000 pairs per month and employs approximately 450 staff at peak production.

The Sidala Trust partnership ends following the untimely death of the main trustee. The shareholding reverts to Endura Capital and the Brandon Geyser Family Trust. Footwear production starts slowing quickly as local retailers begin supporting lower-cost imports from the East. EVA is forced to restructure its manufacturing capabilities and focus on its core competencies.