TASEZ – it’s time for the lions to tell their story
By Mandla Mpangase
By hosting the opening of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature and the State of the Province Address at the Tshwane Special Automotive Zone on 24 February 2025, the provincial government – one of TASEZ’s shareholders – acknowledged how far the special economic zone has come in opening up the economy.
Premier Panyaza Lesufi took the opportunity to talk about the impact TASEZ has had in its short existence as he began his speech.
“Five years ago, where we are now, there was nothing but empty ground. Today, as we hold this State of the Province Address in this facility, we can show how we are moving forward, helping drive South Africa – the future of manufacturing starts here.”
TASEZ – Africa’s first automotive city – sees the production of more than 700 cars every day, 200 000 annually thanks to the component manufacturers based in the special economic zone, next to Ford’s Silverton plant.
The premier referenced the proverb “until the lions have their historians, tales of the hunt shall always glorify the hunter” pointing out that today, the lions are telling their story.
“We are ready to tell our story,” he said, adding that the venue of the State of the Province Address stood as testament to the things that are being done in South Africa.
“We have 8 000 people who were unemployed three years ago, that have jobs today.”
Gauteng was proud to be the home of Africa’s first automotive city.
Lesufi pointed out that TASEZ grew out of a multi-tiered partnership between the Gauteng Province, the national Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, and the City of Tshwane – and of course, the drive from the investment made by the Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa in expanding its plant.
Phase 1 of TASEZ saw a total investment of R26-billion, with more than 8 000 jobs created in construction and permanently.
“This innovation has also brought opportunities for 229 small businesses to work within the zone. They benefitted from R1.7-billion set aside for procurement packages from small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs).”
Attention was paid to women, youth and people with disabilities in particular.
“This special economic zone is a demonstration of what can be done by other special economic zones to create opportunities.”
Premier Lesufi told the legislature that earlier in the day he had attended a sod-turning ceremony to mark the start of TASEZ’s Phase 2 development.
Phase 2, the premier noted, will expand the SEZ and attract an investment of R6.1-billion from private sector investment, and R3.9-billion from government partnerships.
This phase will see the creation of 6 150 jobs, and, like Phase 1, SMME procurement spend has been ringfenced to the amount of R1.1-billion.
“We don’t want to simply build cars, we want to transfer these skills to our young people,” Lesufi said.
“We are proud that Phase 2 is going to include an academy to train the young people for the future.”
Reflecting on the fact that TASEZ was chosen to host the 2025 State of the Province Address, CEO Dr Bheka Zulu said: “History has been rewritten here, not with a pen, but with the presence of the people.”
TASEZ is the first SEZ to host such a significant event. “Scores of people from all walks of life came to be part of this event,” Dr Zulu added. “For us, that is a significant indication that we are an organisation of choice.”
The lions have told their story.