‘Armscor should’ve asked us about shoes’

560 03-01-2014 Members of the South African Defence Force (SANDF) march in front of the military vehicle carrying the coffin of the late MK veteran Lehlohonolo Moloi from Walter Sisulu hall in Randburg to West Park cemetery. Picture: Tiro Ramatlhatse

560 03-01-2014 Members of the South African Defence Force (SANDF) march in front of the military vehicle carrying the coffin of the late MK veteran Lehlohonolo Moloi from Walter Sisulu hall in Randburg to West Park cemetery. Picture: Tiro Ramatlhatse

Published Oct 3, 2014

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Johannesburg - If Armscor had asked around, they would have found existing research on shoes instead of spending R1.6 million.

“I am dismayed and very, very angry that their investigation was so poor that they did not ask the custodians of foot health (the Podiatry Association, Pasa) nor Saflia (the SA Footwear and Leather Industries Association), either of which would have told them that the research had already been done (in 2007) by 3D scans of 500 women of all ethnic groups in SA,” said researcher Anette Thompson.

She should know, as she did it as part of her masters degree.

“Pasa would be happy to sort out SANDF ladies’ shoes - all they have to do is ask the real experts,” said Thompson.

“I have all the data and besides, as part of my National Research Foundation grant, spent six years learning how to design women’s lasts and shoes by returning knowledge to the industry. Why on earth spend money to recreate the wheel (and they don’t have a wheel by the sounds of it)?”

On Wednesday, The Star reported that Minister of Defence Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula told Parliament that Armscor is spending R1.6m over six years to design a pair of court shoes for women in the SANDF. So far, R1.2m has been spent and the project has logged 1 608 hours. The minister’s comments arose from questions from the DA spokesman on defence, MP David Maynier.

“Due to the diversity in shape, variability in foot sizes and specific foot characteristics identified in the SANDF population, commercially available uniform footwear does not accommodate the full spectrum of the female SANDF population,” said Mapisa-Nqakula, explaining the need for the “substantial research to characterise the South African female foot”.

Maynier questioned the spending and why the Defence Force apparently hadn’t checked if the private sector had the anthropomorphic data needed.

Thompson questioned the amount of time spent on the project, calling the six-year project outrageous. She said it should take about 10 weeks to create samples for testing, then six months at most for wear trials.

“A similar matter happened recently in which army special forces were advised to purchase an imported boot, but the entities they chose to take advice from didn’t even know about fittings and so an entire consignment didn’t fit the troops.

“The Podiatry Association has a Footwear Committee with specialist podiatrists trained to advise on footwear selection, design and development. Why don’t our government departments do their homework properly?” said Thompson.

The Star

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