ChemCity is Sasol’s enterprise development vehicle, and operates to support new and existing entrepreneurs with business development. ChemCity embarked on a new partnership with Medi-Heel: a Cape Town-based cosmetics company that produces and markets chemical treatments for dry and cracked heels, primarily for use in spas and salons. Medi-Heel is already distributed both locally and internationally, the company requires better positioning within the industry.

Sasol ChemCity commissioned Mthente to conduct: (1) a sector performance evaluation, including an overview of the Health and Beauty sector and an analysis of the foot care sub-sector; and (2) market research focused on foot care products currently used in the South African spa and salon industry. The purpose of the study was to investigate ways in which to assist Medi-Heel to increase its presence as a supplier to the spa and salon industry. ChemCity also intends to use this research for the benefit of similar companies, and as an indicator of the overall viability of the foot care product sector.

The research approached included a market scan of the Health and Beauty sector in South Africa, as well as the footcare subsector, and 166 survey interviews with representative of spas and salons in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban.   The survey focused on five core marketing aspects relevant to Medi-Heel, namely:  market segmentation; psychological aspects of the market; purchasing power and buying habits; environmental factors and marketplace competition.

The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DoJ & CD) commissioned statistical information and an analysis that led to recommendations on whether the minimum age of criminal capacity should remain at 10 years, as provided for in Section 7(1) of the Child Justice Act, 2008 (Act 75 of 2008) or whether the minimum age of criminal capacity should be raised.

The objectives of the project were to compile a record of:

• statistics on the number of children from 10 years up to the age of 14 (per type of criminal offence category) who are alleged to have committed offences;
• the type of offences that they allegedly committed;
• the sentences imposed on these children, if they were convicted; and
• the type of offences that did not go to trial because the prosecutor was of the view that criminal capacity would not be proved, the reasons for that decision in each case, and the ages of the children involved.

The research included the collection of statistical data in 92 identified courts across the nine provinces of South Africa. The courts were chosen by the DoJ & CD based on the high number of child justice cases reported in these courts in order to give a more detailed picture of the status of 10 to under 14-year-old children within the justice system.

In terms of Section 8 of the Child Justice Act, 2008 (Act 75 of 2008), the research provided the Minister with the necessary information to present a report to Parliament detailing the research findings of the DoJ & CD with regard to the minimum age of criminal capacity.

Mthente conducted research for the ILO to develop case studies that promoted the procurement from the social economy within the public and private sector in South Africa.  The case studies hightlighted  good practices where the government and private sector are procuring from social enterprises in a sustainable way and showcased the impact of such procurement strategies on enterprises and the communities in which they operate.

Mthente was commissioned by the Department of Trade and Industry to develop a handbook aimed at providing trade and investment profiles, trends and growth prospects of all 53 African countries to policy makers and exporters.

Mthente was was commissioned to assist CITI to grow the ICT sector in the Western Cape Province by reaching its strategic vision to become the leading ICT Hub in the region.

The aim of our research was to work with CITI to achieve its vision, and to increase their long-term competitiveness and stability, allowing them to become a significantly contributor to growing the Cape’s ICT sector.