As a major contributor to the country’s economy, the manufacturing sector needs to take the lead in nurturing black-owned companies and developing critical skills.
This was the thinking behind a black-owned manufacturer event, hosted by the East Cape Automotive Industry Forum (ECAIF) in Port Elizabeth on Friday.
Addressing various manufacturers from across the city, ECAIF chairman Dave Coffey challenged local component manufacturers to play their part in empowering blackowned businesses.
“Manufacturing is the core driver of GDP growth and employment creation,” Coffey said.
“While we have identified 33 black-owned manufacturers in total in the Eastern Cape, [the Automotive Supply Chain Competiveness Initiative] ASCCI identified 56 in the automotive supply chain in South Africa. This is a huge problem as it’s just too few.
“As there is clearly a shortage of black-owned manufacturing companies in South Africa, we need to do something about it.
“It is vital that we succeed in developing and creating black manufacturers [as] this is a good and sustainable way of conducting business.”
As a part of contributing to this success, ECAIF will be offering training to unemployed students to prepare them for a manufacturing environment.
ECAIF’s Leon Stoltz said it had received funding from Merseta.
“We didn’t receive the full amount we applied for [to train 400 students], but we’re positive we will manage to work around the constraints.”
Manufacturers attending the event and exhibition praised ECAIF for taking the initiative to promote black-owned supplier development.
Yenza Manufacturing managing director Themba Mtati said: “It’s very important to have these events because there are certain customers you want to meet but can’t get to – and when they come to you, it [presents] a perfect opportunity.
You also get to meet other peers, and these companies can also be used by your business.”
Bronscor owner Karish Nagura said though his business was doing well, the exposure was crucial to finding new business.
“It is difficult for companies that are starting up now,” Nagura said.
“This is important because a lot of people aren’t very knowledgeable about the industry right at the start. We need more of these initiatives, and on a bigger scale.”