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Programme Director, MEC Jabu Mbalula; Premier of the Free State, MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae; Ministers and Deputy Ministers; Members of the Free State Executive Council and Legislature; Executive Mayors and other leaders of our municipalities; Traditional leaders; Representatives of Joylong and YJC; Representatives of Walk of Life and Drakensberg Fruit Processors; Leaders of organised business and labour; Young people, l...
Programme Director, MEC Jabu Mbalula; Premier of the Free State, MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae; Ministers and Deputy Ministers; Members of the Free State Executive Council and Legislature; Executive Mayors and other leaders of our municipalities; Traditional leaders; Representatives of Joylong and YJC; Representatives of Walk of Life and Drakensberg Fruit Processors; Leaders of organised business and labour; Young people, learners and trainees; Members of the community; Ladies and gentlemen; Good afternoon. It is a pleasure to be here at the Free State Catalytic Investment and Industrialisation Launch 2026. In March this year during an engagement between the National and Provincial Executives, I said that the Free State is uniquely positioned to be at the heart of South Africa’s economic growth story. I am most encouraged by the work the province is doing to give effect to that vision. Because of its strategic position along key freight and transport corridors, Maluti-a-Phofung is particularly well-placed to become a catalyst for the industrialisation of the province. Until the early 2000s, the Free State was a manufacturing hub. Yet, due to challenges like deteriorating municipal services and infrastructure, a number of companies closed or relocated to other provinces. The Free State Growth and Development Strategy aims to reverse that trend and provide a clear roadmap for the reindustrialisation of the province. The Maluti-a-Phofung Special Economic Zone plays a pivotal role. I understand that there are sites for 65 factories and 58 percent of those are occupied. But no industrial area can succeed on its own. It needs to be an integral part of a thriving region. The strategic location of the Maluti-a-Phofung Special Economic Zone – in the province that sits at the centre of our country – makes it a vital precinct. This province is bordered by six other provinces, and it is easily accessible to neighbouring countries. This Special Economic Zone is connected with other industrial centres across the province, with agricultural producers, with transport and logistics networks, and with markets in South Africa and beyond. To attract the investment to this area, government is committed to providing reliable electricity and water provision, functioning roads, safe industrial premises, efficient approvals and accountable project management. Good and reliable infrastructure attracts investors. The quality of municipal services influences where companies invest. Today, we are here to launch a provincial programme for catalytic investment and industrialisation. It is a demonstration of confidence in the provincial economy. We are announcing three investment initiatives totalling more than R120 billion. The proposed YJC renewable energy project represents an investment of approximately R100 billion and has the potential to create 6,500 jobs. The planned Joylong Automotive Manufacturing project, with an investment of approximately R5.5 billion, is expected to create 1,500 direct jobs over five years and produce up to 8,000 electric vehicles per year. The Walk of Life Apple Juice Concentrate Plant, representing approximately R330 million in investment, is expected to create 100 permanent jobs and approximately 600 seasonal employment opportunities. These projects demonstrate the type of economic activity we need to build: investment that creates productive capacity, develops local value chains, strengthens exports and expands employment. And this is particularly important in agriculture. The Free State is one of South Africa’s major agricultural provinces. Our objective must be to move beyond primary production towards agro-processing, beneficiation, packaging, manufacturing and market access. The Walk of Life investment is significant not only because of the jobs it will create, but because it demonstrates how agricultural production can be connected to industrial processing and value addition. Similarly, our industrialisation agenda must support the transition towards new technologies and industries. The planned electric vehicle manufacturing investment provides an opportunity to position the Free State within the emerging green economy and new-energy industrial value chain. Investment must be matched by skills. The success of any enterprise depends not only on the investments made in factories, equipment and supplies. It depends fundamentally on the investments made in people. It therefore gives me great pleasure to acknowledge the 130 learners who are with us today who have received skills training and are progressing towards placement. These learners have received training from the Free State Development Corporation, the Unemployment Insurance Fund and Eskom in a number of areas. They have been trained in plumbing, environmental practice, construction road work, food and beverage, first aid and the management of electrical systems. I ask that all you learners please stand up and show us your certificates so we can acknowledge you and congratulate you. We are proud of you and your achievements. We need our youth to occupy the opportunities opening up in the space of technology. Institutions and employers must help young people connect training to further experience and, where opportunities become available, to decent work. Local businesses must be part of this effort. We need a firm partnership between Government, industry, training institutions and investors so that skills development becomes a direct pipeline into economic participation. A factory depends on far more than its production line. It needs to be part of a broader value chain. A factory buys components, materials and packaging. It needs maintenance, cleaning, security, professional services and transport. Our established manufacturers and our small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) should prepare to meet these needs. This launch brings together all spheres of Government, development finance institutions, infrastructure agencies, investors, organised business, labour and communities. Each has a contribution to make. Municipalities must provide dependable services and responsive local planning. Investors must bring viable plans and honour their commitments. Communities must be engaged throughout the planning process and given meaningful opportunities to participate. Development finance institutions and specialised agencies must lay the groundwork and leverage private investment through the effective deployment of public resources. As I conclude, I want to thank the Premier and the Free State Provincial Government for convening this programme. Thank you to the Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality and Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality for hosting us. Thank you to the traditional leaders present for their ongoing engagement and support. I thank our Chinese partners, South African project principals, the Free State Development Corporation, the Maluti-a-Phofung Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and all the teams who have brought the programme to this point. The measure of today’s success will be what happens after the banners come down. The province is committed to tracking the actions announced here over the next 30, 60 and 90 days. Where there are barriers, we must identify them early and resolve them through the proper channels. Our ambition is to build a Free State that makes more of what it uses, processes more of what it grows and creates more paths into productive work. If we prepare projects properly, invest in enabling infrastructure and give people the skills and information they need, that ambition can become a reality. Through our collective efforts, we can build a Free State that works for all. I thank you.
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