Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone (TASEZ) chairperson Lionel October says he is satisfied with the progress made on the construction of the roughly R8-billion project. 

October visited the TASEZ site, located next to the Ford Ranger assembly plant in Silverton, with a team of officials from the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) and the Gauteng government. 

“Significant ground has been covered since the laying out of the bulk infrastructure and the official commencement of the factory spaces,” said October.

“This multibillion-rand infrastructure project, which is jointly funded by all three spheres of government, has made impressive progress – despite the Covid-related lockdown – since it was unveiled by President Cyril Ramaphosa in November 2019.

“I cannot overemphasise the importance of this investment project to the job creation and localisation goals of government for the automotive sector,” he added.

October said that the completion of Phase 1 construction will see more than R4.33-billion in investment from ten Tier 1 and Tier 2 component suppliers to the Ford Motor Company over the next 12 months. 

“Having these suppliers located adjacent to the Silverton assembly plant is crucial towards increasing the efficiency and competitiveness of the South African automotive sector, thus unleashing further potential increases in production capacity for domestic and export markets,” he noted.

DTIC spatial industrial development and economic transformation acting deputy director-general Maoto Molefane indicated that with the construction of factories being at an advanced stage, government would now support TASEZ to develop other industrial development support systems, such as training facilities, incubation centres, retail facilities and an office park.

These will be developed in line with market demand and the TASEZ Master Plan. 

“The plan has always been to develop TASEZ as one of the smart development precincts that have work, play and stay options for workers and surrounding communities,” said Molefane.

“TASEZ is being developed using the new SEZ approach that Cabinet has recently approved, which seeks to strengthen collaboration and coordination of the SEZ programme with other spheres of government and the private sector.”