Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM), South Africa’s largest vehicle manufacturer, exporter and retailer, had been hit by a strike at its Prospecton plant, in Durban, halting vehicle production since Monday afternoon, confirmed a company spokesperson on Wednesday.

TSAM’s Leo Kok said the company’s management was locked in talks with workers, as well as leaders of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa, in an attempt to understand the driving force behind the strike, and to resolve the situation.

The strike appeared to be linked to wage demands.

Toyota on Monday morning opened its new R363-million parts distribution warehouse in Gauteng, in what TSAM president and CEO Dr Johan van Zyl said was the first big money to be spent in a fresh multibillion-rand investment cycle by the Japanese manufacturer.

“We will be looking at investing into the production of new models at the plant again, and expanding our business.”

TSAM assembled the Hilux, Fortuner, Quantum and Corolla models at its Prospecton plant, which had the capacity to produce 220 000 units a year.

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