PLANS are afoot even now for a further trade mission to South Africa next spring, despite reports of violence coming out of the country.

Bryan Treherne, chairman of SLEC, has been involved with four missions to the Republic in the past five years and he thinks the current wave of unrest has to be seen in context and in the light of the business opportunities there.

He said: “No sensible person would ever lead a group of would-be traders into danger, but that isn’t what we’re talking about here. “Every time I go to South Africa we visit at least one township and neither I nor anyone who has come with me has ever felt threatened. I wish I could say the same about some parts of London.”

The violence that erupted recently in Johannesburg is largely caused by high levels of unemployment and the belief of many indigenous South Africans that immigrants are taking their jobs.

That belief is fuelled by the fact that immigrants are happy to work for much lower wages than the indigenous population and elements within the business community are only too pleased to take advantage of the situation to reduce their overheads.

Some immigrants, like those from Zimbabwe, are fleeing repressive regimes, but the majority have chosen South Africa for economic reasons.

The houses in South African townships are mostly brick-built bungalows, each with its own garden and proper access to electricity, mains water and sewage.

You will see similar properties on the outskirts of many British seaside towns.

The Mandela and Tutu families once lived in such accommodation in the Soweto area of Johannesburg.

South Africa is pleased to show their homes to the world as part of the country’s tourist trail.

Recent additions to the housing stock include small blocks of flats, which the government is building in an attempt to house even more families in modern accommodation.

By contrast, recent immigrants cluster in shanty hovels at the edges of townships – the best of these dwellings are made from corrugated tin, others from wooden or even cardboard packing cases.

A shack beside an open sewer on the outskirts of a township with access to drinking water from a nearby standpipe may not sound very attractive – but it is a huge improvement on the conditions some immigrants have had to endure at home.

And the wages they can earn – meagre by South African standards – are life-sustaining for them and their families.

The South African government euphemistically refers to these immigrant clusters as ‘informal settlements’ – it is embarrassed by their presence and does its best to re-house the inhabitants as quickly as possible. But as fast as it does so, others arrive to take their places.

Bryan said: “The townships proper are hives of industry supporting some innovative initiatives for creating new jobs. I have visited workshops for single parents, where mum is taught weaving skills and the realities of piecework while her child is looked after in a next-door crèche.

“The workshops are modern, clean and comfortable, while the crèches are the equal of anything you will find in south London.

“And I have eaten in a training restaurant where boys are taught the essential skills to find work in five-star hotels. The menu may not be cordon bleu, but the food is wholesome and filling, and the company is always good.

“It would be a real shame if the actions of a few – however justifiable – were to spoil the chances of the vast majority who are always keen to work with international partners for their mutual benefit.”

Please call Bryan Treherne on 07779 717326 for more details about next year’s South African trade mission or to book your place.

Our pictures (top to bottom) show:

The Hillbrow Communications Tower in central Johannesburg, linking Africa's commercial heart with the rest of the world.

A new housing development in Soweto, Johannesburg's South Western Township, built to the same standards you would expect to find in any European city.

One of the 'informal settlements' that the South African government is doing its best to eradicate by re-housing the residents as quickly as possible.

BRYAN TREHERNE has been recognised at the highest level for his work with existing and potential international traders.

The chairman of South London Export Club receives an MBE in Britain’s 2008 New Year’s Honours List.

A delighted Bryan said: “It came as a complete surprise when the letter arrived, towards the end of November.

“In fact, it was so unexpected that I almost threw it away unopened, thinking it was just another government circular.”

Bryan was nominated for the award by senior colleagues at UK Trade and Investment - the government organisation that supports British business overseas - with whom he works three days a week.

The citation tells of Bryan’s unstinting support for existing and would-be overseas traders in south London - particularly those in the Croydon area.

It also notes the crucial advice he gave to Croydon Council in its successful bid for a multi-million pound grant from the British government’s Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI).

In the past 12 months, as well as organising the export club and advising individuals and firms about doing business abroad, Bryan has led successful trade missions to France, Holland, Hungary and South Africa. In 2008 he will be taking missioners to Bulgaria and the Caribbean, among other places.

Bryan’s family is equally pleased with the award. He said: “My wife Betty sees it as compensation for the weeks I spend overseas and all those evening meetings.

“She’s looking forward to a buying a new outfit for the investiture at Buckingham Palace later in the year.”

Bryan’s contacts around the world have been keen to respond to his award with e-mails and phone calls of congratulation - including those from senior staff at the British High Commissions in Bridgetown, Barbados and Cape Town, South Africa.

Fellow MBEs among his impressive list of business contacts have been equally eager to welcome him to their exclusive club.

But Bryan does not intend to use his title in commerce. He said: “When I ran my own company I never had managing director on my business cards.

“I prefer to sell myself in person rather than raising expectations in advance. I see putting MBE behind my name in the same way, but I am very proud of my award.

“I enjoy helping businesses to succeed and I intend to go on doing so. I believe that encouraging them to trade internationally helps to strengthen the whole commercial operation at home and overseas.”

Bryan citation also refers to his record of community service, which includes helping to run an inner London scout troupe for more than 40 years; serving on the finance committee  of South London YMCA for the past six years; and being a director of Croydon Education Business Partnership for the past two years.

And it highlights his work with colleges in France, Germany and Holland to bring students to Britain and give them experience of international trade as the basis of substantial study projects.

Bryan is pictured with an award he won from UK Trade and Investment in 2007 for his work with international traders.