Ramaphosa calls steel sector a national priority
The President says a strong metals and engineering industry is essential to South Africa’s industrial growth, infrastructure and economic recovery
President Cyril Ramaphosa has described South Africa’s metals and engineering sector as central to the country’s industrial development, saying a competitive steel industry should be treated as a national priority.
Speaking at the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA) inaugural Presidential Breakfast in Johannesburg on Thursday, 13 August, Ramaphosa highlighted the sector’s role in supplying equipment and infrastructure across the economy.
“The companies represented here manufacture the machines that drive our mines, the structures that carry our electricity, the equipment that moves goods through our ports and railways, and the components that keep our factories operating,” he said.
Ramaphosa said the metals and engineering industry would be important in efforts to get the economy back on track, while stressing the importance of a strong domestic steel industry.
“Steel is a strategic industry. Without steel, there is no industrial economy,” he said. “Supporting a competitive and sustainable steel industry is therefore a national priority.”
SEIFSA CEO Tafadzwa Chibanguza welcomed the President’s focus on the challenges facing industry, including electricity, logistics, water and municipal service delivery.
He said the sector had an important role to play in strengthening these areas and supporting broader economic growth.
SEIFSA President Mervyn Naidoo said industrialisation needed to be treated as a deliberate national choice, backed by policies and institutions that could deliver results.
“The test is whether they produce real orders for domestic firms, reliable infrastructure, investment in productive capacity and sustainable jobs,” he said.
Naidoo added that this would require clear accountability, coordination across government and mechanisms to identify and resolve implementation problems.
Elias Monage, Chairperson of the SEIFSA Board, said the breakfast was part of the federation’s ongoing engagement with government and was intended to strengthen communication between the metals and engineering sector and the Presidency.
“Engagement at Presidential level gives strategic direction and impetus. It enables focused discussions with the relevant ministries and institutions in the economic cluster, where the detailed work of implementation must take place,” he said.
Chibanguza said the event marked another step in SEIFSA’s engagement with government to ensure that the country’s industrialisation plans translate into tangible improvements for businesses.
“These engagements close that feedback loop. This is the apex engagement and the start of our next round of discussions with the economic cluster ministries,” he said.
