Member News – BeztForex

As global markets shift and exchange rate volatility continues to bite, South African stainless steel producers and fabricators face increasing pressure to manage their international transactions more effectively. Whether it’s importing raw material or exporting finished product, fluctuations in currency and cross-border payment delays can have a direct impact on profitability and competitiveness.

That’s why the arrival of BeztForex as a new Sassda member comes at an opportune time, not simply as another financial services provider, but as part of a growing conversation about how the sector can improve its approach to international trade, foreign exchange (FX), and cross-border compliance.

Strategic Trading

For many in the stainless steel value chain, currency exposure has long been treated as a necessary cost of doing business rather than a strategic consideration. Importers face uncertainty in their landed costs when rates swing unexpectedly, while exporters can lose margin between quoting for an order and receiving payment.

As stainless steel prices remain sensitive to global commodity cycles, these currency movements can amplify market pressures. The impact is particularly felt by small and medium manufacturers, who often lack access to specialist guidance or competitive forex structures.

At a recent Sassda Business Breakfast Executive Director Michel Basson highlighted the importance of “bridging financial and operational expertise” across the association’s network, particularly when it comes to helping members become more resilient and globally competitive. The inclusion of companies like BeztForex aligns with that broader intent.

Who Is BeztForex and Why They Joined Sassda

BeztForex was established in 2012 with the aim of offering more agile and adaptive forex services to businesses trading internationally. The company has since grown from a small partnership into a national operation, with around 3 000 clients across multiple industries.

For BeztForex Partner Kevin Burke, joining Sassda was a natural step back into a familiar space as he has been associated with the stainless steel industry since the late 1980s through his earlier work with Middelburg Steel & Alloys and Econometrix.

“I’ve seen how sensitive the sector is to pricing shifts and how much difference timing and rate efficiency can make. Our aim isn’t to sell a service but to contribute expertise that helps members trade more confidently and sustainably,” he says.

In practice, that means helping Sassda members, particularly importers and exporters, understand their forex exposure, structure their transactions efficiently, and ensure Reserve Bank applications are handled correctly and quickly.

Breaking Down Barriers to African Trade

As South Africa positions itself within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the ability to move money safely and predictably across borders is becoming a key enabler of growth.

For stainless steel businesses looking north, into markets like Zambia, Kenya, or Nigeria, access to liquidity, local currency restrictions, and regulatory bottlenecks remain constant challenges. BeztForex’s experience in African trade gives Sassda members an additional knowledge partner who can help demystify these practical obstacles.

More broadly, Sassda sees this kind of expertise as part of a bigger puzzle: enabling members to compete on more than just material and manufacturing capability. The ability to manage financial flows effectively, minimise friction, and secure payments quickly are now equally important success factors.

Addressing the Human and Technical Gap

Across industry, there is growing concern that forex management has become overly automated and depersonalised. Many companies are left navigating call centres or generic online systems, with little understanding of how to mitigate risk or make informed timing decisions.

BeztForex COO Danica Bezuidenhout argues that this lack of hands-on service often costs businesses more in the long run not just in rates, but in lost opportunity and administrative delays. “Our model combines technology with personal guidance through a dedicated portfolio manager, which may prove useful to smaller Sassda members without in-house forex departments,” she explains.

However, the company is careful to frame its role as complementary rather than competitive. Its function is to support clients, by handling the groundwork and ensuring all SARB and compliance elements are correctly in place before funds are transacted.

Knowledge Sharing and Skills Development

One of the practical commitments BeztForex has made to Sassda is to share knowledge rather than only offer services. The company will be  contributing regular commentary, analysis, and educational content for distribution through Sassda’s channels, covering topics such as global currency trends, trade risk management, and the regulatory landscape around foreign exchange.

Plans are also underway to host member workshops and online sessions on issues such as grey listing, short-term trade insurance, and understanding financial surveillance procedures. These will be provided at no charge and tailored to the realities of the stainless steel trade environment. The intent, according to Bezuidenhout, is to make international finance “less intimidating and more accessible,” particularly for businesses that may be new to exporting or expanding into new markets.

Looking Ahead: Collaboration for Competitiveness

As Sassda continues to strengthen its member network through cross-sector partnerships, financial intermediaries like BeztForex have an important role to play in unlocking new efficiencies.

By simplifying forex processes, clarifying compliance, and promoting cost transparency, such partnerships can reduce barriers to trade-freeing stainless steel producers and fabricators to focus on what they do best: innovation, production, and market growth.

BeztForex’s national digital model and its collaborative approach make it well positioned to support Sassda’s vision of a more connected, competitive, and opportunity-driven stainless steel ecosystem.

“We’re excited to be part of an industry association that values collaboration. If we can help members trade more effectively, particularly as Africa’s markets open up. That’s a win for the whole value chain,” says Bezuidenhout.

As the industry continues to navigate global uncertainty, partnerships that merge financial acumen with industrial insight may well prove to be the quiet enablers of South Africa’s next growth chapter.

*For more information e-mail kevin@beztforex.co.za or call: +27 82 573 032.