President Thabo Mbeki's commitment to job creation in the clothing and textile industry has been lauded by the South African Clothing and Textile Workers Union (SACTWU).
Mr. Ebrahim Patel General Secretary SACTWU said “The President has prioritised the clothing and textile sector for accelerated growth, in recognition of its vast job potential. The sector has the highest labour intensity in manufacturing, and can create tens of thousands of new jobs if support policies are put in place. SACTWU has worked with the
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| Department of Trade and Industry to put an industry growth plan together”. Mbeki's State of the Nation Address placed on record an in-principle agreement with China to save the South African clothing and textile sector, the trade union noted. SACTWU and Cosatu have been involved in the campaign against high imports. This culminated in a general strike in June 2005 and provincial strikes in October 2005 over job losses in the sector. According to the union, total imports from China now account for about half of all local consumption, and this equates to more than 100,000 local jobs. 
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