Tasez

Government and the private sector have invested more than R8-billion in TASEZ to support South Africa’s automotive manufacturing capacity. The recent oversight visit by representatives from the dtic, the national and provincial departments of Treasury and the Gauteng Department of Economic Development demonstrates TASEZ’s importance as one of the key implementors of government’s industrial development policies. Some of the significant achievements of TASEZ during itsconstruction phase included: The creation of more than 5 000 job opportunities in phase 1 Over 2 000 direct job opportunities created in theoperational phase Over R1-billion procurement spent on 214 local small,medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) More than 300 SMMEs benefitted from accredited trainingprogrammes Procurement spent on SMMEs, with TASEZ’s assistance,resulted in the improvement in Construction Industry Development Board (cidb) grading.

Special economic zones (SEZs) have become one of the major subjects of interest in both developing and developed countries, identified as one of the most effective ways to drive industrial development. The vision of Fetakgomo-Tubatse SEZ (FTSEZ), which will be based in the Sekhukhune District in Limpopo, is to be the global centre of excellence for sustainable solutions in green energy manufacturing, agro-processing and mineral beneficiation. Limpopo is one of the global leaders in the production of platinum, which is used mainly in industrial, medical and electronic products. FTSEZ Project Executive Mr Solly Kgopong says one of the key focus areas of the SEZ is to become a significant producer of hydrogen and other clean energy technologies. The hydrogen economy is a game-changer, he says, particularly in the efforts to re-industrialise the provincial economy. “For FTSEZ, this will provide demand for mining inputs supplies and the opportunity for large-scale industrialisation for mining inputs and beneficiation of mining outputs,” he added Africa’s first automotive city, TASEZ, is changing the face of South Africa’s manufacturing industry, accelerating economic reform, encouraging investment in the industry and, most importantly, creating jobs. Located in the City of Tshwane, TASEZ is a multi-billion rand project covering over 200 hectares. It is a crucial special economic zone that fits seamlessly into the priorities of the South African Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan, according to TASEZ Business Development and Investment Promotion Mr Msokoli Ntombana. “TASEZ plays a catalytic role in extending economic participation across the Tshwane region, opening up multiple opportunities for small, medium and micro enterprises and co-operatives,” he said.

Ms Hlabatau has been tasked with ensuring TASEZ’s financial sustainability. The Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone (TASEZ) is thrilled to announce the appointment of chartered accountant Ms Rebecca Hlabatau as the organisation’s new chief financial officer (CFO). Ms Hlabatau, who has 20 years’ experience in senior management in the public sector, brings a wealth of skills to TASEZ from her outstanding track record of working in the health, transport and legal professional services industry. She will provide TASEZ with strong financial leadership, ensuring a stable base on which it carries out its important role as a catalyst for employment, transformation, socio-economic development and industry growth. Ms Hlabatau brings her own experience of the transport sector as she was previously the CFO of the Cross Border Road Transport Agency (C-BRTA), a national public entity responsible for the regulation and facilitation of road transport cross border operations in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. She was previously the CFO of Legal Aid South Africa, a national public entity with a network of six provincial offices and 64 local offices located across the country, with a staff complement of 2 700 and a budget of R2- billion. Ms Hlabatau holds a number of degrees and diplomas, including a post graduate diploma in accounting science (CTA) from the University of South Africa (UNISA), graduating from the flagship Management Advancement Programme (MAP) at the Wits Business School, completing an International Financial Reporting Standards certificate from the University of the Witwatersrand, and reading for an honours in accounting science from UNISA. She is also a qualified chartered accountant, holding the globally recognised CA(SA). As TASEZ continues to grow and expand its impact on the automotive sector, Ms Hlabatau will be there to provide a steady hand on TASEZ’s financial helm.

Captain Bheka Zulu to steer TASEZ’s mettle in rebuilding SA’s manufacturing capacity. The Board of the Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone (TASEZ) has appointed Captain Bheka Zulu as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) with effect from August 2022. Captain Zulu says he is encouraged by the performance and achievements of TASEZ. “The organisation has been able to attract interest from notable players in the automotive industry which has resulted in positive socio-economic spin-offs,” he says. TASEZ is a joint project between the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, the Gauteng Provincial Government and the City of Tshwane. Its mandate is to support the development of the South African automotive manufacturing industry. Captain Zulu was the CEO at a Durban-based ocean economy shipping company and a board member at the South African Maritime Safety Authority. He is also a part-time lecturer at the Durban University of Technology’s Maritime Studies Department and is a PhD candidate focusing on the ocean economy. As the new CEO, Captain Zulu is tasked with the overall responsibility of positioning TASEZ as a leading investment hub for automotive manufacturing in South Africa. In addition to its successful initiatives in the automotive sector, TASEZ has also shown its strength in good governance and financial management, receiving successive clean audits from the Auditor-General for 2020/2021 and 2021/2022.

The importance of women in the South African economy cannot be understated. They have a critical role to play that is not simply limited to their contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) but in creating jobs and growing the country’s production capacity. There is no doubt that the number of women-owned businesses in South Africa has increased over the past few years. However, much more still needs to be done as South Africa strives towards inclusive economic growth. The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, also known as UN Women, identifies women – particularly those in the rural areas – as key agents for achieving the transformational economic changes required for sustainable development. It is befitting that both the public and private sectors create opportunities for women-owned businesses. If South Africa, as an active proponent of inclusive economic growth, is to establish itself on a growth path, a concerted effort is needed to include the contributions of women. They are among the most resourceful entrepreneurs in South Africa and beyond; they are stronger and nimbler in living their entrepreneurial dreams. To quote the former United States first lady, Michelle Obama: “There’s no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish.”

TASEZ has become one of the significant players in the special economic zone ecosystem, led by Lionel October. The Board comprises members from key partners including the dtic, Gauteng Provincial Government, City of Tshwane and Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa. For the second year running, TASEZ has received clean audits from the Auditor-General. This is as a direct result of effective strategic guidance and sound corporate governance provided by the Board. As one of the key implementors of government’s industrial development policies, TASEZ plays a critical role in the broader special economic zone ecosystem. This is evident in the company’s mettle to attract automotive investments. As at the end of 2021/2022 financial year, about R3.41 billion was in by 12 investors. These investments will provide a great opportunity for South Africa to achieve real and meaningful industrialisation, especially in the automotive industry. More than 600 direct job opportunities have been created for the residents of Mamelodi, Nellmapius and Eersterust. Additional 1 400 (jobs opportunities) are expected to be created in the current financial year. One of the critical objectives of TASEZ is to increase investment and support the development of SA’s automotive manufacturing industry.