First Steps
The exciting journey of BanziFeet started in 2015 when Prof. Ranel Venter and Dr. Elbe de Villiers, as part of a larger team comprising researchers from Stellenbosch University and Hamburg University, Germany, set out to compare the feet measurements of a cross-section of German children and adolescents with their South African counterparts
Subsequent findings of this research highlighted significant differences in the foot shape and morphology between children originating from these two countries. Furthermore, researchers found that 91% of the South African children and adolescents involved in the study could be classified as having grown up habitually barefoot. Alarmingly, the study concluded that no less than 67% of the regular school shoes worn by local children on the day of testing were either too narrow, wide or short considering their foot measurements.
Walking strong
In 2019, Marise Breet and Prof. Venter, in collaboration with a research team, investigated the feet measurements of a further cross-section of South African children and adolescents. This study revealed that, considering school shoes currently available on the open market, no fewer than 98% of the children would be unable to acquire shoes wide enough in relation to their foot length.
These findings, combined with the increasing need to facilitate an ever-growing section of the population having no option but to wear ill-fitting shoes during their developmental years, led to the establishment of Banzifeet.
Running free
With the help of Innovus, and the generous support of the Technology Transfer Office of the University of Stellenbosch, our certification mark was officially registered in 2022, signaling the dawn of a new, innovative, and exciting era in the manufacturing of school shoes available to the public. Our certification mark confirms that shoes were designed and manufactured based on data gathered in our research. South African consumers often struggle to find shoes that fit properly across the width of the foot. BanziFeet has changed shopping for comfortable shoes forever. Customers might find that they can now actually buy a smaller shoe than their typical sizes because the shoe design is based on the correct relationship between foot length and foot width.
Meet the team
Mrs Marise Breet
Marise is a biokineticist has been a fully qualified biokineticist since 2008, focusing on orthopaedic rehabilitation, sports injuries, and chronic disease management. Her career has been marked by owning and managing a successful biokinetic practice, acting as Chair of the Western Cape Biokinetic Association of South Africa, contributing to research in sport science, and advocating for improved footwear for South African children. She is currently pursuing a Joint-PhD at Stellenbosch University, South Africa and KU Leuven, Belgium to deepen her knowledge in the how footwear might be a risk factor in developing foot deformities and lead to falls in older populations. Marise has been selected as the Healthcare Leadership Award winner at the ASAIPA National Medical Awards (NMA) in June 2024. This was awarded for exemplary leadership qualities and exceptional service in the medical professional field that have led to impactful solutions within the South African healthcare system.
Dr Elbé de Villiers
Elbé is a fun-loving mother of three with a PhD in Sport Science, who thrives on challenges. Her long-standing fascination with the mechanics of the foot has shaped much of her academic and professional journey. Having grown up immersed in sports, she possesses a deep understanding of athletic performance and well-being. A former Biokineticist and lecturer at Stellenbosch University, she now works as a biokineticist for the Sharks rugby team, where she dedicates her expertise to helping athletes recover and return to their peak performance. Elbé brings both a scientific and practical understanding of athletic performance, driven by her commitment to excellence in the high-performance sports environment.
Prof Ranel Venter
Ranel Venter has more than 15 years of experience in research on footwear for performance and health. She is a full professor at Stellenbosch University, where she specializes in Applied and Sports Biomechanics, as one of her research focus areas. Recognised as an established researcher by the National Research Foundation, Ranel has made significant contributions to her field. Together with her research group and collaborators, she has published extensively in international and national peer-reviewed journals. She has presented her research at numerous conferences, including as invited speaker. Her work is also regularly featured in the print media and on television and radio. Ranel’s achievements have earned her two SU Rector’s Awards as well as two Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies’ Awards for Outstanding Research Outputs. Additionally, Ranel, Marise and Elbè (BanziFeet directors) received a special award from SU and its Innovation and Commercialisation Division, Innovus, for their innovative work in developing the certification mark for school shoe designs BanziFeet.
