President Cyril Ramaphosa, Gauteng Premier David Makhura and Minister of the Department of Trade and Industry Ebrahim Patel broke ground in honour of the launch of the Tshwane Automotive Hub at the Ford Motor Company in Silverton, Pretoria.
Ford is the anchor tenant of the new hub, which hopes to create in excess of 5,000 jobs.
The hub was created following the SA Investment Conference held last year, and is linked to government’s Automotive Master Development Plan 2035.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is seen with Gauteng Premier David Makhura (R) and Minister of Department of trade and Industry Ebrahim Patel (L) during the launch of the new Tshwane Automotive Hub at the Ford Motor Company in Silverton, Pretoria, 5 November 2019. Picture: Jacques Nelles
The launch forms part of the Tshwane Automotive City (TAC) project, which aims to transform the city into an automotive production powerhouse, with the city boasting the Ford plant alongside plants for BMW, Nissan/Renault, and Tata.
TAC hopes to attract new automobile manufacturers to Tshwane.
The Automotive Hub also forms part of the expansion of the OR Tambo International Airport Special Economic Zone, and is developed through a joint partnership between Tshwane, the Gauteng Provincial Government and the Department of Trade and Industry.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is seen breaking the ground along with Gauteng Premier David Makhura (L) , Minsiter of Department of trade and Industry Ebrahim Patel and Tshwane Mayor Stevens Mokgalapa, during the launch of the new Tshwane Automotive Hub at the Ford Motor Company in Silverton, Pretoria, 5 November 2019. Picture: Jacques Nelles