The Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone (TASEZ) requires the services of independent Internal Auditors to verify compliance and performance of the organisational processes and systems. Compulsory briefing session: Date: 28 August 2026 Time: 09: 00 – 12:00 Venue: TASEZ Central Hub Manitoba, The Willows 340-Jr, Pretoria Closing date: 11 September 2026 at 12h00 Download RFP004/2026 here
In his latest weekly letter, From the Desk of the President on 17 August 2026, President Cyril Ramaphosa talks about the importance of turning the southern African region into one that creates jobs, grows industries, develops infrastructure and improves lives. This week, South Africa has the honour, as the incoming chair, of hosting the 46th Summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in eThekwini. As it starts its SADC chairship, South Africa’s focus is on the practical steps needed to further integrate the economies of SADC and build a dynamic regional market. This is becoming increasingly important in the context of growing turbulence in the global economy. Conflicts in faraway places are causing great disruption to trade, raising the prices of fuel, grain and fertiliser, and reducing the prospects for growth. It is precisely at such a moment that we should be clear about what SADC means for South Africans. Our membership of SADC is not just a matter of foreign policy. It is about the creation of jobs and improving the quality of life of South Africans. It is about the growth of our industries, the development of our infrastructure and the health and well-being of our people. As a community of 16 countries with a combined population of nearly 400 million people, SADC has abundant natural resources, a youthful population and the means to produce everything that its people need. Yet, trade among SADC countries only stands at around 20% of our combined total trade. Collectively, Southern Africa has abundant energy resources, minerals and land. We have skills, technology, industrial capabilities and strong financial institutions. Yet, we still import much of the goods and services we need from beyond our shores. For example, our region holds much of the world’s critical minerals, yet we export the ore and import the battery. We are supplying an industrial revolution taking place elsewhere and buying back its products at a price set by others. That is why we need a dynamic common market in which we trade with each other. No country in this region can, on its own, build an integrated power system, develop cross-border corridors, manage shared water resources or withstand the full force of climate change. We need to link our economies through corridors of goods, services and industry. We are developing the Maputo, North-South, Trans-Kalahari, Beira and Lobito corridors, but we need to do more so that they become living arteries of commerce, carrying freight, electricity, data and people. We have the Southern African Power Pool, which means that electricity generated in one country powers businesses and lights homes in another. Our task now is to widen that pool to ensure that all parts of Southern Africa have a reliable supply of affordable energy. We must similarly develop our shared water resources so that every country has the water it needs to supply its industries and its people in a sustainable manner. We need to remove the costs that we have imposed on ourselves, from reducing the price of phone calls and money transfers to reducing waiting times at our borders and harmonising customs procedures. Our ambition must not be limited to more trade with each other. We must produce goods and services together. We must assemble cars in one SADC country from parts manufactured in another, using materials produced in a third. While we need to invest in infrastructure and industry, our region’s most precious asset is our people. More than half of SADC’s population is under the age of 30. To realise this demographic dividend, we must ensure that every young person is given the best foundation for success in life. As a region, we should work together to ensure that every child has sufficient food and water, that they have quality health care and can access early childhood development. To realise their potential, we need to invest in our schools, universities, technical and vocational colleges and research institutions. These are some of the actions that this Summit will consider as we work to achieve SADC’s Vision 2050 for an integrated, productive and prosperous region. As South Africa takes up the chairship of SADC, we do so in the knowledge that our own prosperity is bound up with that of our neighbours. It is now up to all of us to turn this aspiration into a reality, and to turn the enormous potential that our region has into growth, development and jobs.
The Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone (TASEZ) is seeking to appoint a service provider for private cloud hosting, infrastructure, and software licences for a period of three years. Compulsory briefing: 18 August 2026 Time: 10h00 – 12h00 Venue: TASEZ Central Hub Manitoba, The Willows 340-Jr, Pretoria, 0081 Closing date: 1 September 2026 at 12h00 Download RFP010/2026 here
By Mandla Mpangase Nomboniso Zuma’s journey from the corporate world to building a growing automotive business is a story of determination, opportunity and what becomes possible when women step into industries where they have historically been underrepresented. Leaving the security of a corporate career to build a business is never an easy decision. For Zuma, it was a leap of faith that has taken her from the corporate world to the helm of a growing automotive enterprise employing 23 people. Today, as Chief Executive Officer of Fez Simplicity, Zuma has her sights firmly set on the next step: building a leading seating engineering and interior design company and ultimately becoming a Tier 1 supplier. Her story is precisely the kind of story TASEZ wants to tell this Women’s Month. Through its She is TASEZ campaign, the Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone (TASEZ) is celebrating the women whose ambition, expertise and determination are helping shape its success – and showing young women that there is a place for them in South Africa’s automotive and manufacturing industries. For Zuma, the journey began while she was still working in the corporate sector, when she joined her mother in building the family business. “It’s been quite a journey, but it’s also been rewarding as an entrepreneur. It’s never easy, but you have to have the grit for it, and if you’re determined, you will reach the places that you want to go to,” she says. The decision to leave corporate employment required persuasion, but Zuma had recognised something bigger: an opportunity for women in the automotive industry. “I saw that there is an opportunity within Fez Simplicity. There’s a big opportunity for women within the automotive industry to tap into this industry and see the business grow,” she says. That opportunity has grown considerably. Fez Simplicity began as a fitment centre. When customers needed upholstery and seat covers, the company saw a gap in the market and decided to bring the service in-house. What started as a small studio in a garage with two women has grown into a business employing 23 men and women. It is a telling example of entrepreneurship in action: identify a need, take a risk, invest in an idea and create something that did not exist before. But growth in the automotive sector comes with its own demands. Breaking into a market dominated by established suppliers requires persistence. Meeting automotive quality standards requires investment in machinery, skills and internationally recognised certifications. For Fez Simplicity, funding, access to quality materials and ISO 9000 accreditation have been important milestones on its journey towards supplying major original equipment manufacturers. This is where the role of TASEZ became significant. Zuma first encountered TASEZ at an exhibition, where she was introduced to programmes designed to help small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) operating in the automotive industry. That relationship opened access to exhibitions, business support and assistance in strengthening the company’s internal systems and compliance. For Zuma, the value of that support has been about more than a single intervention. It has been about access – access to opportunities, networks, exposure and the broader automotive ecosystem. “They said, ‘We are here to support you. We want to see you grow and succeed, and we’re here to be your partners,’” she says. That partnership is an important part of the She is TASEZ story. The campaign is not simply about celebrating women who already occupy senior positions. It is about recognising the journeys that brought them there, the businesses they are building, the people they employ and the doors they are opening for others. Zuma’s story is particularly powerful because it demonstrates what women can contribute when they enter sectors such as automotive manufacturing and engineering – sectors that have traditionally been seen as male-dominated. It also demonstrates why enterprise and supplier development matters. A growing SMME is not just a business on a balance sheet. It can become an employer, a supplier, a skills developer and, ultimately, a participant in increasingly sophisticated industrial value chains. Fez Simplicity now has dedicated upholstery and seating production teams alongside its fitment centre and is looking beyond its current market. Its ambitions extend into locomotive and marine applications, while its ultimate goal is to become a leading seating engineering company and a Tier 1 supplier. That ambition is at the heart of She is TASEZ. Because the women being celebrated this Women’s Month are not simply beneficiaries of economic opportunity – they are creating it. They are employing people, building businesses, solving problems, entering technical fields, making decisions. And they are demonstrating to the next generation that automotive manufacturing, engineering, and technology are not industries in which women have to ask whether they belong. They belong because they are already there. Zuma’s story also carries a message for the young woman who may be considering entrepreneurship but is unsure whether she has what it takes. Her answer is simple: grit and determination matter. And so does having people and institutions willing to support the journey. She is TASEZ is about making those journeys visible. Throughout Women’s Month, TASEZ will tell the stories of the women driving its success – women whose experiences can inspire the next generation to pursue careers, businesses and leadership roles in STEM , manufacturing and the automotive sector. Nomboniso Zuma is one of those women. She left the corporate world. She saw an opportunity. She took the risk. She expanded a business. And she is not finished yet. “I have big plans and bigger ambitions for Fez Simplicity to become a leading company in South Africa and a Tier 1 company,” she says. With women like Zuma taking their place in the automotive value chain, the future of South Africa’s industrial economy looks considerably bigger too. She is an entrepreneur; a manufacturer; an employer; an automotive leader. She is Fez Simplicity. She is TASEZ. (You can also meet Nomboniso Zuma on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqgj5pK3zF4)
By Mandla Mpangase As South Africa marks the 70th anniversary of the historic Women’s March to the Union Buildings, the Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone (TASEZ) is honouring the women of 1956 by helping more women gain a foothold in South Africa’s industrial economy. This year’s Women’s Day theme, “Empowered women empower the nation”, resonates strongly with TASEZ’s work in creating jobs, developing skills and opening opportunities for women-owned businesses. The growth of TASEZ has created thousands of employment opportunities. Women accounted for 32% of the permanent jobs created during Phase 1, while women also benefited from employment opportunities generated during construction. Women-owned businesses have also gained opportunities through TASEZ’s procurement and Enterprise and Supplier Development programmes. These initiatives are helping small businesses build capacity, access markets and become part of the automotive value chain. For women entrepreneurs, entering the automotive industry can provide a platform to grow beyond small-scale operations and build sustainable businesses. TASEZ’s support of small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) is therefore an important part of broadening participation in an industry that has traditionally been dominated by larger companies and, in many areas, by men. Skills development is another key part of this work. Through the TASEZ Training Academy and partnerships with training and educational institutions, the zone is helping young people acquire skills that match the needs of the automotive and manufacturing sectors. Giving women access to these opportunities can help them enter technical and industrial careers and compete for jobs in a growing sector. The economic impact reaches beyond the workplace. Women who secure employment, build businesses or develop new skills can support their families, employ others and contribute to their communities. That makes economic empowerment an important part of the legacy of the Women’s March. In 1956, more than 20 000 women marched to the Union Buildings to challenge laws that restricted their freedom. Their action demonstrated the power of women to organise, lead, and demand change. Seventy years later, women continue to shape South Africa – this time through their participation in the economy. At TASEZ, that means creating more opportunities for women to become workers, entrepreneurs, suppliers, professionals and leaders in the automotive sector. The message of Women’s Day remains as relevant today as it was in 1956: when women have the opportunity to succeed, the benefits extend far beyond the individual. Empowered women help build stronger families, businesses, communities and a stronger nation.
The Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone (TASEZ) is looking to appoint a panel of service providers for the provision of professional catering services on a need basis for a period of 36 months. Compulsory briefing: 14 August 2026 Time: 10h00 – 12h00 Venue: TASEZ Central Hub Manitoba, The Willows 340-Jr, Pretoria, 0081 Closing date: 28 August 2026 by 12h00 Download RFP 028/2025 here
By Mandla Mpangase What began as a logistics consulting business has evolved into an innovative clean energy enterprise that is transforming waste cooking oil into biodiesel, demonstrating how South African entrepreneurs are finding sustainable solutions to support both industry and the environment. Speaking on the sidelines of the 2nd International Special Economic Zones (SEZ) Infrastructure and Investment Conference, Mooketsi Makena, co-founder and owner of Potent Conceptials, said the company’s journey reflects how enterprise support, innovation and partnerships can unlock new opportunities within the automotive and transport sectors. Founded in 2020, Potent Conceptials initially focused on consulting services for the logistics industry before expanding into technology and, more recently, renewable energy. “When we started in 2020, we started as consulting agents within the logistics industry. Our focus was on RTMS (road transport management systems) and PBS (performance-based standards that monitor the operational performance of heavy-duty vehicles), and then we went into the ICT sector, where we are still developing a data and compliance management app for the logistics sector. Late last year, we started our biodiesel manufacturing project,” Makena said. The company’s latest venture aims to produce cleaner-burning biodiesel from used cooking oil, with plans to expand into other sustainable feedstocks. “Biodiesel is clean diesel, so it has fewer emissions. We’re producing it from used cooking oil, and we’re looking at using alternative feedstocks such as sunflower seeds and other oilseeds. When you drive, you’re driving cleaner,” he said. Makena said the idea emerged after he recognised both a market opportunity and an environmental challenge. “I saw a gap in the market within the clean energy industry. Around the world, the focus is now on clean energy. At home we had used cooking oil that we couldn’t dispose of properly. When I researched what could be done with it, it led me to biodiesel. It helps the environment – no more clogged drains and no more soil pollution,” he explained. His company’s work aligns with the automotive industry’s growing emphasis on reducing emissions and adopting more sustainable fuels, highlighting the role that innovative small businesses can play in supporting South Africa’s transition to greener mobility. Makena said support from the Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone (TASEZ) has been instrumental in helping Potent Conceptials gain exposure to investors and potential business partners. “The support I get from TASEZ is important because this is actually the second exhibition that they have sponsored for me. The first one was the Energy Indaba, where I got amazing leads. They are giving me access to investors, partners, and also the market that I need to tap into, so they are quite beneficial,” he said. That support reflects one of the key themes emerging from the conference: that Special Economic Zones are not only attracting investment into strategic industries, but are also creating opportunities for innovative small businesses to commercialise new technologies, access markets and contribute to South Africa’s industrial development. Makena believes innovation is also about making better use of the tools and resources already available. “Young people have tools that we’re not using correctly. AI can give you ideas and teach you new skills. If we focus on learning about areas such as clean energy, we can unlock many opportunities,” he said. Looking ahead, Potent Conceptials aims to establish a fully operational biodiesel production facility capable of producing between 70 000 and 150 000 litres of biodiesel a week, helping to supply cleaner fuel solutions to the transport and automotive sectors while advancing South Africa’s green industrial economy.
The Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone (TASEZ) is looking to appoint a service provider for the construction of roads, stormwater, sewer, water, and various upgrades to surrounding intersections (Package B). Compulsory briefing: 21 August 2026 Time: 10h00 – 12h00 Venue: TASEZ Central Hub Manitoba, The Willows 340-Jr, Pretoria Closing date: 4 September 2026 by 12h00 Download tender RFP027/2025 here Annexure 1 Annexure 2A Annexure 2B Annexure 3 Annexure 4 Annexure 5 Annexure 6A Annexure 6B Annexure 6C Annexure 7 Annexure 8 Annexure 9 Annexure 10
By Mandla Mpangase A business that started as a car wash in 2018 has grown into a diversified manufacturing company producing automotive components, homeware, medical waste containers and 3D-printed products – a transformation that underscores the role of supplier development and Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in building South Africa’s industrial base. Speaking on the sidelines of the 2nd International Special Economic Zones Infrastructure and Investment Conference in July 2026, Zwi Nelwamondo, Managing Director of Lwams Africa Group, said the company’s evolution reflects a deliberate strategy to move beyond participating in the automotive industry as a supplier of services to becoming a manufacturer. “Lwams Africa Group was founded in 2018. We were only doing the car wash business in 2018, and then in 2020 we got a contract to supply these number plates. We just wanted to add value into the automotive value chain, not only by being a middleman, but rather being a manufacturer,” said Nelwamondo. Lwams Africa Group is a Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone (TASEZ) enterprise development beneficiary. The shift into manufacturing laid the foundation for a broader product portfolio. Today, the Pretoria-based company manufactures household products including lunch boxes, plates and microwave covers, produces medical waste buckets, and offers in-house 3D printing services using its own equipment and proprietary designs. “Everything is in-house. We’ve got our own machines. We own our designs as well,” Nelwamondo said. He said expanding the business required significant investment in manufacturing equipment, with access to finance proving to be one of the company’s biggest hurdles. “My challenge was more on the finance to acquire equipment. We approached government, and they assisted with funding, and then we were able to get equipment that is currently running in our facility,” he explained. Nelwamondo also credited supplier development initiatives with accelerating Lwams Africa Group’s growth, helping it become part of the Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone family through its connections to anchor tenant Ford. The company joined Ford’s supplier development programme after responding to a public call for applications. “We applied to be part of the programme, and fortunately enough we got to be part of the supplier development. Ford really played a big role in the success of our company from the inception up until now, and we are looking forward to a continuous relationship going forward,” he said. His experience reflects one of the central themes of the conference – that industrialisation depends not only on attracting investment into SEZs, but also on developing local enterprises capable of integrating into manufacturing value chains and expanding their capabilities over time. For emerging manufacturers, conferences such as the International SEZ Infrastructure and Investment Conference also provide an important platform to connect with potential customers and partners. “A platform like this assists small businesses like us because it’s access to the market. We get to meet other businesses that can be interested in our product offering, and already we’ve got a couple of leads through the engagements we’ve had,” Nelwamondo said. His company’s journey from a small car wash operation to a diversified manufacturer demonstrates how targeted supplier development, government support and access to market opportunities can enable South African businesses to move up the industrial value chain while contributing to a more resilient and competitive manufacturing sector.
The Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone (TASEZ) has announced the awarding of RFP018/2025 for the design and construction of top structure services to Ukuza Holdings. See details here
