Trade, Industry and Competition Deputy Minister Zuko Godlimpi will on Wednesday visit sugar mills in KwaZulu-Natal in preparation for the reopening of the Sugarcane Crushing Season in May.
The Deputy Minister will start his visit with the re-opening of the Gledhow Mill.
This follows a R1.8 billion expansion by the new owners, which was a commitment pledge made at the South African Investment Conference which took place on 31 March 2026 in Sandton, Gauteng.
Godlimpi will also sign Phase 2 of the Sugar Cane Value Chain Master Plan during the quarterly Executive Oversight Committee meeting.
According to the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, Phase 1 of the Sugar Industry Master Plan (SIMP) was established as a partnership between government, the private sector and labour to stabilise and transform the sugar sector.
“The South African sugar industry remains a strategic agro-processing value chain, supporting rural livelihoods, small-scale growers, and regional economies, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga.
“The industry is currently facing several structural challenges, including the risks of potential mill closures that could significantly affect cane growers, rural employment, and associated value chains,” the department said.
Notwithstanding the challenges faced by the industry, the dtic and government development finance institutions like the Industrial Development Corporation remain committed to supporting the reopening of the sugar cane mills to preserve jobs and sustain the rural livelihoods in KZN.
This commitment comes from the appreciation that livelihoods would be negatively impacted should there be a disruption in the sugar industry operations. – SAnews.gov.za
