The Board of the Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone announce the completion of phase 1 and the commencement of phase 2 construction of the Tshwane Automotive Special Econominc Zone.
This milestone marks a significant achievement in the development of the automotive industry in South Africa, paving the way for future growth and prosperity.
TASEZ launched its Academy, which will play a crucial role in providing specialised training to support the needs of the automotive sector.
The Tshwane Automative Special Economic Zone (TASEZ) is a milestone.
This is according to the CEO of TASEZ Dr Bheki Zulu who addressed guests and media personalities about the launch of the second phase of the programme at the company’s headquarters at The Willows, just outside Mamelodi on Tuesday.
“Phase 2 of TASEZ is a milestone that marks a significant achievement in the development of the Automative industry in South Africa, paving the way for future growth and prosperity,” he said.
In addition to this milestone, TASEZ will be launching an academy that will play a crucial role in providing specialised training to support the needs of the Automative sector.
Zulu referred to TASEZ as a child that was raised by the community, adding that it takes a village to raise a child.
He emphasised that TASEZ was part of the government’s broader intention to change the lives of the people of Tshwane and the country for the better.
He said the envisaged TASEZ Academy is aimed at imparting individual members of the community with much-needed skills that will help them grow when going into the world of employment, and also as future owners of Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs)
In this regard he made reference of the construction sector, which he said needed lots of technical skills.
“We want townships to grow, our commitment is township economy, we want the community of Mamelodi to produce millionaires and billionaires through this programme,” he said.
“Through this programme we are engaged in a capacity building journey for the community, province and country,” said Zulu.
“This special economic zone is one of the few projects where all three spheres of government get to participate together, unlike in the past where only one sphere of government would participate,” he said.
Zulu said within 2 years TASEZ has managed to construct 12 factories of which 3 are already operational and producing car parts for Ford Motor Company.
“Ford has increased its production volumes and to sustain this increase they need a nearby special economic zone for quick deliveries.
Zulu said of the 12 aforementioned factories, 3 are direct foreign investments while the rest are local companies.
“We are now coming up with phase 2 of TASEZ whereby we will be supplying car parts to Ford as well as other companies,” explained Zulu.
Chairperson of CPC Community project committee Shiba Madonsela said the following:
“Our aim as members of the community of Mamelodi is to make sure that we benefit from factories that are in the TASEZ programme.”
He said as CPC they have a problem with policies that have been in place all along regarding economic development, but expressed joy that Minister of Economic Development Essop Patel has proposed industrial policy review to benefit people on the ground.
“It is not yet Uhuru as we still have a long way to go but we are pleased that phase 2 of TASEZ will transfer robotics skills to our learners.
“Robotics skills are very importantly as they will play a huge role in the future,” he said.
Chairperson of Mamelodi Amalgamated Taxi Association (MATA) Ben Maredi announced that TASEZ was established in 2019 and has become successful because there is unity among stakeholders.
“2000 jobs have been created by TASEZ and Ford can now produce 750 cars daily as there are car parts available near it,” he said.
Maredi said the success of TASEZ factories can be attributed to the fact that there hasn’t been work stoppages at these factories since inception.
He appealed to the CEO of TASEZ Dr Bheki Zulu to make sure that managers of the factories provide transport for workers who knock off late at night to avoid situations whereby they would rape or mugged.
One of the recipients of the TASEZ certificate Oupa Mathebe told Tshwane Talks that he was excited to receive the certificate as it is a door-opener because when an opportunity comes along one has to grab it with both hands.
“I am happy that TASEZ has given me and others an opportunity to learn at their Institutions and this certificate will open doors that I couldn’t reach out for in the past,” said another recipient of the certificate, Sekwati Lebusa