Trade, Industry and Competition Deputy Minister Alexandra Abrahams conducted official oversight visits at the Freeport Saldanha Industrial Development Zone (IDZ) and the Atlantis Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in the Western Cape.
The visits were aimed at assessing the functionality and operational realities within South Africa’s industrial and special economic zones ahead of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee for Trade, Industry and Competition engagement on the IDZs and SEZs.
Abrahams explained that the recent visits were intended for ground policy oversight and decision-making through firsthand experience from the officials and stakeholders she met with.
“I’m out today to come and see what is happening on the ground, so that when I sit in those meetings, I’m not speaking from theory but from understanding and knowledge. You need to be on the ground to really see what is happening and why certain challenges exist,” she said.
The oversight visits provided an opportunity for direct engagement with zone management and stakeholders, and allowed Abrahams to engage stakeholders on operations, infrastructure, and working conditions beyond formal presentations.
“A lot of my learning and understanding happen when we walk through the floor. There are things you simply cannot see from a boardroom, but once you are on the ground, the questions start to make sense,” Abrahams said.
While acknowledging progress within the SEZ and IDZ programme, Abrahams emphasised the importance of openly addressing challenges that may hinder efficiency, growth and investment.
“We often focus on what is working well, but we don’t always dig into what is not working. Red tape and bureaucracy can sometimes slow down the work that needs to be done, and it is important to understand where those blockages are,” she said.
She further highlighted the need for better coordination and alignment across government and with the private sector to unlock the full potential of industrial development initiatives.
“Economic development does not happen in isolation, it requires alignment between departments, municipalities, provincial government and the private sector. When that alignment is missing, progress is delayed,” she said.
Skills development and youth employment emerged as key priorities during the visit, with Abrahams reiterating that SEZs and industrial parks must deliver tangible benefits to surrounding communities.
“One of the purposes of SEZs and industrial parks is to bring jobs to local communities. Yet we still find that skills are being brought in from outside, while people who live nearby remain excluded,” the Deputy Minister said.
For communities to benefit, skills development must align with what these zones actually need.
Abrahams stressed the importance of future-proofing skills development in response to South Africa’s high youth unemployment and rapidly changing labour market.
“We need to be honest about what we are training our young people for. We should be preparing them for the future economy, not for roles that technology has already overtaken,” she cautioned.
She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to economic development and job creation, and added that SEZs and IDZs remain strategic instruments for industrialisation, investment attraction and employment creation.
“Economic growth and job creation are the apex priority of the government. These visits allow me to learn, to ask better questions and to ensure that decisions are informed by what is happening on the ground,” the Deputy Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za
