Welcome to the 13th edition of the South African Business journal. First published in 2011, the publication has established itself as the premier business and investment guide to South Africa, supported by an e-book edition and website at www.southafricanbusiness.co.za.
A special feature in this journal focusses on the vital focus on infrastructure that is seizing the attention of the political and business leadership of South Africa. This is not the arena of endless talk shops. Rather, 160 CEOs of some of the country’s most influential companies are rolling up their sleeves and trying to make things work better. The article looks at steps being taken by a combination of the public and private sectors to beef up the country’s railways, ports and energy network. Crime is also under the spotlight. As this journal goes to print, South Africa will ascend to the presidency of the G20, a singular honour and an opportunity for the country to put its best foot forward. A brief overview of each of the country’s provinces is also provided.
South African Business is complemented by nine regional publications covering the business and investment environment in each of South Africa’s provinces. The e-book editions can be viewed online at www.globalafricanetwork.com. These unique titles are supported by a monthly business e-newsletter with a circulation of over 35 000. The Journal of Africa Business joined the Global African Network stable of publications as an annual in 2020 and is now published quarterly.
FOCUSBuilding a globally
FOCUSBuilding a globally competitivemineral-beneficiation clusterOR Tambo International Airport SEZ Precinct 1 is fully open for business and theSEZ is ready to expand operations.Pluczenik and key government principals at the official opening of the Pluczenik building.In construction since the latter part of 2018, theOR Tambo International Airport SEZ Precinct 1officially opened all its doors during the monthof March 2024.This milestone, which marked the end of ORTambo SEZ Precinct 1’s development, was celebratedat an event attended by key government leaders,investors, tenants and stakeholder partners. Thiscommemoration followed similar occasions held inApril 2019, when the second-largest food factory ofits kind became operational and again in February2023, when a building that houses Pluczenik, aBelgian investor, was unveiled in the presence of keydignitaries including King Philippe of Belgium.In addition to the building openings markedon other occasions, two other buildings have beenoperational at the Zone since 2020; these include aprecious-metals refinery as well as an administrativebuilding where national regulatory agencies arelocated. These agencies, the South African Diamondsand Precious Metals Regulator (SADPMR) and theState Diamond Trader (SDT), are mandated withproviding regulatory guidance and oversight of theminerals industry in South Africa as well as promotingequitable access to and beneficiation of the country’sdiamond resources respectively. Their presence atthe Zone contributes to efficient operations by themanufacturers, who must, on a regular basis, engagewith the agencies on issues of licensing, raw materialaccess and exporting.SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 202522
FOCUSTo herald the end of Precinct 1’s development,the six remaining buildings were completed,bringing to a successful realisation the objective setby the Gauteng Provincial Government to establisha globally competitive mineral beneficiation clusternext to Africa’s largest and busiest airport.Reindustrialising South AfricaThis vision, which gives impetus to South Africa’smineral beneficiation strategy, was conceptualisedin support of the objective to contribute tothe country’s re-industrialisation by facilitatingenhanced value addition of minerals mined inSouth Africa, instead of continuing to be exportedin their raw form, resulting in the export of jobs tocountries that add the value. To counter this and inrecognition of South Africa’s mineral endowments,development of a globally competitive mineralbeneficiationindustrial park supported by a sectornuancedmanufacturing ecosystem comprisedof different role-players within proximity to eachother (thereby enhancing operational efficiencies)was birthed.In acknowledgement of the competitive locationof the OR Tambo International Airport SEZ – next tothe continent’s most active airport – manufacturingactivities in the first phase of the SEZ also includefresh-food production. This is because the food systemhas the ability to employ a large number of people,supporting the country’s objective to create muchneededjob opportunities. It is no mistake therefore,that the anchor on the northern side of ORTIA Precinct1 is a premium fresh-food producer with the capacityto package more than 1 400 food products.Unpacking ORTIA Precinct 1: Fresh food,jewellery and diamond manufacturingFood-processing operationsORTIA Precinct 1 comprises 63 000m² of developedspace. This includes a 22 735m² food-processingfacility that became operational in 2019.Described as the largest and most diverseultra-fresh food facility of its kind in the southernhemisphere, In2food Bonaero as it is known,accommodates food preparation, storage, office areasas well as a canteen, showers and a medical clinic.Jewellery exhibited at the JMP opening in March 2024.
