The R6.1 billion investment announced by Toyota in South Africa is on track to create 2 000 jobs, Toyota South Africa Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Kirby says.
Kirby says the jobs will be created through the company’s supplier value chain, and a further 500 jobs will be created within Toyota South Africa Motors, as 2 700 vehicle parts will be procured locally.
“A further R42 million empowerment trust has been set aside. More than 85% beneficiaries are black. These include black-owned enterprises, suppliers and socio-economic beneficiaries. The trust can also be used as a tool for skills development, where employees and unemployed people may benefit,” says Kirby.
Director of Automotives at the dti, Tinyiko Mafuwane, says the investment and trust fund were in line with the department’s vision of economic transformation, with the inclusion of previously disadvantaged groups in the mainstream economy.
Mafuwane says Toyota SA is moving in the right direction regarding empowerment through implementing a number of initiatives that will also grow the sector, and this should set an example for other original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
Already, the company has produced locally Toyota Hilux and Fortuner models locally at the carmaker’s Prospecton plant in Durban.
The Department of Trade and Industry (dti) and Brand South Africa on Thursday organised a tour for media at the carmaker’s Durban plant. The purpose of the site tour was to profile South Africa’s competitive business environment ahead of the International AIDS conference taking place next week in Durban.
Source: adapted from a press release from GIS for Transform SA Online
