During a roundtable discussion on Gauteng’s economic development with MEC for economy, Tasneem Motara, and members of the media on Thursday, 15 February 2024, it was a journalist who noted that the Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone could be considered “a resounding success”.

A manufacturing development project that could have taken a decade, came to fruition in a mere 36 months. TASEZ – Africa’s first automotive city – was officially launched in November 2019, and the first cars rolled off its Ford production line in November 2022. The automotive hub’s achievement was even acknowledged when it won a Built Environment Recognition Award as a “state-owned entity that implemented infrastructure projects timeously” at the end of 2023.

As a special economic zone focused on growing investment and innovation within the automotive sector, TASEZ is a vital cog in the country’s economic development.

Based in the automotive hub of the City of Tshwane, TASEZ sees itself as “shaping the future of automotive excellence” as it helps the South African automotive industry on its path to transform the sector by attracting investments and becoming more inclusive and more sustainable.

Motara briefed the media on the economic landscape of the province, highlighting a number of achievements and speaking plainly about the challenges.

Key to the development of the Gauteng economy is transformation and the building of the township economy.

Motara explained how the province has provided financial aid and legislative support to emerging entrepreneurs and small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs).

Among the programmes run by the Gauteng provincial government are the acquiring of products and services from township SMMEs; support for upgrading township businesses in the key sectors of manufacturing, retail, ITC, the taxi industry and backyard real estate.

Public private partnerships involving the Gauteng provincial government include: Bizniz in a Box hawker stalls in partnership with Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa; the Last Mile delivery initiative providing market access to motorbike riders, in partnership with UberSA, iBoltSA and Takalot; and the refurbishment of five township bakeries, with family tree, Heinkeken and Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa providing equipment.

Although not part of the roundtable discussion, TASEZ too plays its part in empowering local township economies. It has a Memorandum of Understanding with the local communities through the Community Project Committee (CPC) which represents Eersterust, Mamelodi and Nelmapius.