Manufacturing & Parts News South Africa

Bhisho injects R20m for skills into VWSA plant project

Premier Phumulo Masualle's provincial government has injected R20m in skills funds into the multibillion-rand Volkswagen SA (VWSA) Uitenhage plant project.
Bhisho injects R20m for skills into VWSA plant project
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This follows an announcement in August that the plant would be producing two new car models by 2017, an investment worth R4.5bn.

The Herald reported at the time that the investment would boost exports and see further job creation by one of the province's biggest employers.

The new models, which have not yet been announced, would be built on a South African-first version of the modular transverse matrix, or MQB, platform, which comes with the latest technology.

VWSA would spend R3bn of its investment on upgrading the plants and invest R1.5bn in its supplier base.

Masualle called the investment significant, coming at a time "when everybody thought this is not likely to happen, particularly given the turbulent environment within the industrial relations framework".

He said: "[The province has] embraced the investment and contributed in terms of skills development."

The provincial government appreciated the opportunity of creating skilled jobs and was partnering with VWSA.

"For just the skills development, R20m has been set aside.

"The funds will be accessed for purposes of the skills necessary for [their] new product."

When the announcement was made, VWSA managing director Thomas Schaefer said that even though South Africa was not the best place for car manufacturing, it was well placed.

He told The Herald at the time: "Due to the strategic location and the potential of Africa as a future market for exports, as well as the security that the APDP [automotive production and development programme] provides for investors, ongoing investment in our vehicle-manufacturing base makes sense."

Masualle said that to encourage more investors to take the risk and invest in the province, an additional R10m would also be made available."

Source: Herald

Source: I-Net Bridge

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