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.
SPECIAL FEATURENamakwa
SPECIAL FEATURENamakwa Special Economic Zone,a Northern Cape firstThe Namakwa SEZ is set to be a catalyst for industrialgrowth and green transformation.Namakwa SEZ has been designated!The Northern Cape has its first SpecialEconomic Zone (SEZ).Then Department of Trade, Industry andCompetition Minister Ebrahim Patel designatedNamakwa Special Economic Zone on 21 May2024, marking a milestone achievement for the 6thNational Administration and the Northern CapeProvincial Government.On 23 May 2024, the Premier of the NorthernCape, Dr Zamani Saul, announced the designationof the Namakwa SEZ, heralding a new era ofindustrial and economic prosperity for theprovince. Spanning 1 270 hectares, the NamakwaSEZ represents a beacon of opportunity and atestament to the vision and hard work of the 6thAdministration. This groundbreaking project alignswith national industrial policy, underscoring theprovince’s commitment to economic growth,innovation and sustainable development.The SEZ has secured a significant investmentof R29.3-billion, led by anchor investors VedantaZinc International and Frontier Rare Earths,demonstrating confidence in the province’spotential. This substantial investment will catalyseeconomic growth, create jobs and stimulateinnovation across various sectors.The Namakwa SEZ is the cornerstone of theNorthern Cape Industrial Corridor, harnessingthe province’s abundant natural resources andtransforming them into economic catalysts. Itwill enable the province to pioneer sustainableindustrial pathways, contributing to the globalgreen economy and aligning with the NorthernCape Green Hydrogen Strategy. This SEZ will createa robust, diversified economic ecosystem, fosteringSmall, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) andstimulating innovation. It will provide enhancedopportunities for the people of the Northern Cape,from direct employment to new business ventureswithin the ecosystem and value chains.The Premier emphasised that this SEZ isSOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 202526
SPECIAL FEATUREmore than an economic project; it’s a pledgeto transform the socio-economic landscapeof the province, making the Northern Capea hub of economic activity and a beacon ofgrowth. The Namakwa SEZ represents theprovince’s commitment to harnessing the powerof collaboration, innovation and sustainabledevelopment to shape a prosperous future.Since the designation of Namakwa SEZ,significant momentum has been gained inadvancing the project development pathways.This designation is aligned with the guidelinesand strategy of the SEZ Act, which outlines thesteps following designation, focusing on actualimplementation.The Northern Cape views this milestone asa crucial step towards its industrial ambitions,particularly in unlocking the Industrial Corridor. Thiseffort is strongly supported as we enter into the 7thAdministration’s commitment to streamline megaprojects towards implementation. The next criticalsteps involve capacitating the Namakwa SEZ entity tofacilitate project preparation activities. This includesprioritising the detailed engineering designs forbulk and link infrastructure. Furthermore, appointingpersonnel to oversee development in partnershipwith the Project Management Unit (PMU) at theNorthern Cape Economic Development Agency(NCEDA) is vital for the project’s success.The Namakwa SEZ is also poised to catalyse theBoegoebaai Green Hydrogen (GH2) developmentprogramme by attracting Original EquipmentManufacturers (OEMs) to the SEZ, thereby enablinggreen transformation and pathways to net-zeroemissions by 2050. ■Join the journeyConnect with the team and secure prime spacewithin the zone and be part of this tremendousjourney the province is embarking on to challengeand make inroads to the industrialisation of theNorthern Cape.Join us on this journey as we embark ontransforming the Northern Cape into a dynamichub of economic activity, driven by the vision ofa sustainable, inclusive and innovative industrialfuture. The work starts here, and together, we willshape the future.Contact the NCEDA to be part of this endeavourin enabling the natural endowments within theprovince to work for all.Be part of the Modern, Growing and Successful province.Vedanta Zinc International is a significant investor in the Northern Cape.
