Manufacturing
Manufacturing is the sector encompassing the production of goods through the transformation of raw materials, components or substances into finished products using labour, machinery, tools and chemical or biological processing. The sector spans a vast range of activities, from food and beverage production to the fabrication of machinery, electronics, vehicles, textiles, chemicals and construction materials. Manufacturing plays a central role in economic development, contributing to gross domestic product, employment, export earnings and technological advancement. It is typically divided into light manufacturing, which produces consumer goods and smaller items, and heavy manufacturing, which involves capital-intensive production of industrial equipment, metals and large-scale infrastructure components. The sector's competitiveness depends on factors including labour costs, skills availability, energy prices, logistics infrastructure, access to raw materials and the regulatory environment. In many African economies, manufacturing remains underdeveloped relative to services and primary industries, though industrialisation strategies increasingly prioritise value addition and local content. Global trends such as automation, digitalisation and the energy transition are reshaping manufacturing, with growing emphasis on renewable energy integration, circular economy principles and skills development to support advanced production technologies. Manufacturing's significance extends beyond direct output, as it drives demand for upstream suppliers, fosters innovation and anchors supply chains that support broader economic resilience.
Manufacturing Updates
SA: Blade Nzimande: Address by Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, during a visit to the East London Industrial Development Zone and Science and Technology Park (16/10/2026)
16th October 2026 All these visits are connected and form part of our Ministry’s programme to strengthen the Department’s relationships with Special Economic Zones... →
SA: Paul Mashatile: Address by Deputy President, on the occasion of the Limpopo Investment Conference 2026, at The Ranch Resort, Polokwane (15/10/2026)
16th October 2026 We meet in a province whose history is deeply rooted in trade, innovation and enterprise. Centuries ago, the Kingdom of Mapungubwe was a thriving... →
SA: Paul Mashatile: Address by Deputy President, at the 8th National Congress of the Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA), Radisson Hotel & Convention Centre, Ekurhuleni (14/10/2026)
16th October 2026 Allow me to convey the greetings of President Cyril Ramaphosa, who had intended to join this important occasion. Unfortunately, due to prior... →
From NUM to NEHAWU within COSATU: What Happened to Industrialisation?
15th October 2026 The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) used to be located close to COSATU center. A mineworker was more than just an underground earner. Due to... →
Mashatile warns of 'new generation of challenges' as AI, unemployment impact S African workers 
By: Thabi Shomolekae 14th October 2026 Deputy President Paul Mashatile declared on Wednesday that while South Africa celebrates its progress in overcoming apartheid, the country and the... →
South African factories crater as China imports stunt revival
By: Bloomberg 13th October 2026 South Africa’s manufacturing sector has been in decline for more than three decades. Now, a deluge of cheap Chinese goods, intensified by US... →
Africa’s next growth chapter starts with capital closer to home
9th October 2026 Africa enters the FT Africa Summit this year facing a familiar question in unfamiliar circumstances. How does the continent finance growth when... →
Seifsa sets sights on unprecedented five-year wage settlement in 2027
By: Terence Creamer 8th October 2026 Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA) president Elias Monage reports that it is aiming to speedily conclude yet... →
South African rand slips as markets await PMI data and October fuel price adjustment
By: Reuters 5th October 2026 The South African rand slipped in early trading on Monday as domestic investors awaited the release of the local manufacturing purchasing managers'... →
SACP pledges its solidarity with Cosatu following the adjournment of its National Congress
18th September 2026 The South African Communist Party (SACP) notes the adjournment on Tuesday, 15 September 2026, of the 15th National Congress of the Congress of... →
