OVERVIEW
Manufacturing The textile sector is recovering.
S
eed funding and investment are critical in helping businesses Sector Insight get started, but sometimes good advice can be just as valuThe Sasol complex is able. Tehilaa Golden CC, a clothing manufacturer, more than the province’s biggest doubled its annual turnover to R11-million with the support enterprise. of the SAB Foundation’s 18-month Tholoana Enterprise Programme. Tholoana offers skilled mentorship, business development tools and training, access to peer networks and finance. Founder Cherilyn About 20% of the Free Lucena (pictured) also expanded her workforce from 46 to 135. State’s manufacturing sites are devoted to food and beverages, The SAB Foundation has provided over R8-million in grant with soft drink giant Cocafunding and business support to 70 entrepreneurs in the Free State. Cola Fortune operating a large Collective turnover has grown by 271%. bottling plant in Mangaung. A 172ha business park in Sasolburg designed to incubate black Landzicht Wine Cellar distriindustrialists is a joint venture between the National Department butes 2.4-million litres of wine of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) and Sasol. There are every year from Jacobsdal. five buildings on the site, training is provided, and companies have access to Sasol’s diverse supply chains. Image: SAB Foundation In 2018 Kevali Chemicals became the first beneficiary of the dtic’s Black Industrialists Scheme (BIS). A grant of R35-million allowed the company to acquire machinery and equipment to start a new line of manufacturing in the Maluti-a-Phofung SEZ (MAP SEZ). Sasolburg in the northern Free State is a key asset in South Africa’s chemicals industry. International giant Sasol has the biggest presence but companies such as Omnia and AECI are other major companies which give the Free State the lead in this sector which relies on advanced technology. Sasol in particular is faced with some tough decisions as its plants must start to comply with stricter Harrismith is home to both sulphur dioxide emission standards. Nouwens Carpets and Boxmore Plastics. Boxmore Packaging’s Manufacturing makes up 9% of Free State gross domestic new PET beer bottles are the first product, and this comprises 4% of South Africa’s total. The Free State PET bottles specifically designRegional Industrialisation Policy is under review to ensure integration ed for beer on the South African of infrastructure, bulk service provision, industrial sites and export market. Empire Gloves makes and tax incentives to attract investment. industrial gloves. The existing manufacturing sector covers chemicals, agro K roonstad-based O c ta processing, textiles, carpets, engineering, packaging, furniture and jewellery. Engineering makes specialised rail carriages for the mining Online Resources sector. In Bloemfontein, Transnet Engineering manufactures new Chemical and Allied Industries’ Association: www.caia.co.za wagons for the Transnet group, Free State Development Corporation: www.fdc.co.za including iron ore and cement South African Textile Federation: www.texfed.co.za wagons and fuel tankers. ■
FREE STATE BUSINESS 2021
40
