Vuvuzela trademark company smiling

The plastic trumpet has been used in South Africa for years and some would say that it "has gone viral" but its trademark holders, for Masincedane Sport, are the ones who are really smiling.

Neil van Schalkwyk, a partner at Masincedane Sport, revealed that the company had sold 1.5 million vuvuzelas in Europe since October and they expect to generate sales of between R15 million and R20m during the World Cup.

"We have modified the mouthpiece, there is now a new vuvuzela which will blow noise that is 20 decibels less than the old one," said Van Schalkwyk. "We hope to sell those at park and ride areas and public viewing areas."
The vuvuzela can be bought for anything from R20 to R100 - depending on the branding of it.

Van Schalkwyk was working in the plastic industry in the 90s and spotted the vuvuzela in a stadium which led him to create the plastic version but business only really took off in 2001 and Masincedane Sport began selling 500 horns a month.

"In 2002, we sold between 500 and 1 000 a month. In 2003, Absa was our first major corporate client when they bought 20 000 for the Absa Cup.

"Then there was the bid for the World Cup and we got in touch with the organisers who bought 250 for their guests."

Kaizeer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates then gave the company the rights to brand the vuvuzela with their logos which allowed the company to grow further.

Masincedane currently has 70 employees and van Schalkwyk revealed that there are talks about taking the vuvuzelas to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.