Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) Deputy Minister Zuko Godlimpi has visited sugar mills in KwaZulu-Natal ahead of the reopening of the Sugarcane Crushing Season in May, as government moves to support the recovery and sustainability of South Africa’s sugar industry.
During Wednesday’s visit, Godlimpi toured facilities including Gledhow Mill, where operations are being revitalised under new ownership following a major investment commitment.
Speaking to the media during the visit, Godlimpi said workers at Gledhow Mill had been reassured that government is prioritising job preservation while also ensuring that the company operates sustainably.
“The government is dedicated to supporting the company’s transition to renewable energy resources,” he said.
Gledhow Mill includes a back-end refinery and is currently undergoing a major off-crop maintenance programme.
The work forms part of the new mill owner’s three-year capital investment plan aimed at upgrading infrastructure, improving operational efficiency and modernising production processes.
According to Godlimpi, the new investor is introducing advanced technology at the plant to improve efficiency and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
The upgrades are also expected to support the manufacturing of spare parts for use at other factories in the surrounding area, contributing to local industrial activity and the regional economy.
“The parts to be sold to these factories in the area will contribute to the local economy,” Godlimpi said.
The reopening of Gledhow Mill follows a reported R1.8 billion expansion project by the new owners, as committed through the South African Investment Conference in March 2026.
The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition said South Africa’s sugar industry remains a strategic agro-processing value chain that supports rural livelihoods, small-scale growers and regional economies, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga.
However, the sector continues to face structural challenges, including the risk of potential mill closures that could significantly affect cane growers, rural employment and linked value chains.
Notwithstanding these challenges, the dtic and government development finance institutions such as the Industrial Development Corporation remain committed to supporting the reopening of sugar cane mills to preserve jobs and sustain rural livelihoods in KwaZulu-Natal.
The department said this commitment reflects government’s recognition that livelihoods would be negatively affected by any disruption to sugar industry operations. - SAnews.gov.za
