​SA News and Lerato Mailoane
The Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone (SEZ) has to date, created numerous jobs and opened up development opportunities for the local community in its construction phase.
To date an estimated 8 600 short-term jobs are expected to be created during the construction phase.
On Tuesday, 02 February,  President  Cyril Ramaphosa visited the site accompanied by Trade, Industry and Competition Minister, Ebrahim Patel; Gauteng Premier David Makhura; Gauteng Economic Development, Agriculture and Environment MEC, Parks Tau, City of Tshwane Executive Mayor, Randall Williams, and the Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa leadership. The visit was aimed at tracking progress made 14 months since the sod-turning of the R3.4 billion joint investment by government and Ford Motor Company.
Welcoming guests, Premier David Makhura said the  project responds to the President's call for investment by empowering communities.
The project has also established the first automotive incubation centre adjacent to the Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone (TASEZ).
The President commended the significant role TASEZ is playing to support the implementation of the country's Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan, which was launched in October last year to respond to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The SEZ programme promotes an integrative and collaborative approach that strengthens partnership and coordination across all three spheres of government, as well as between government and the private sector," said President Ramaphosa.
"It shows what can be achieved through the District Development District Model, especially in delivering critical infrastructure and investment attraction.
"I am told this is the largest investment the Ford Motor Company has made since its establishment in South Africa, and one of the largest investments in the South African automotive industry as a whole," added the President.
The City of Tshwane and the Gauteng Department of Economic Development have committed R288 million and R200 million, respectively, towards the enabling bulk infrastructure development for the TASEZ.
"This investment will make the Silverton Assembly Plant one of the biggest Ranger plants globally and one of the largest Ford truck plants outside the United States.
"The establishment of the Tshwane Automotive SEZ opens up new opportunities to stimulate the development of a high capacity rail infrastructure corridor between Gauteng and the Eastern Cape to assist with transporting finished vehicles for export through Port Elizabeth.
"We are now working on the logistics plan," said President Ramaphosa.
He added that the $1 billion investment announced by Ford is a clear statement of the company's confidence in this development and its ambitions for its South African business.