Manufacturing

The textile sector is recovering.

Seed funding and investment are critical in helping businesses Sector Insight get started, but sometimes good advice can be just as valu- The 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

The SAB Foundation has provided over R8-million in grant devoted to food and beverages, funding and business support to 70 entrepreneurs in the Free State. with soft drink giant CocaCollective turnover has grown by 271%. Cola Fortune operating a large

A 172ha business park in Sasolburg designed to incubate black bottling plant in Mangaung. industrialists is a joint venture between the National Department Landzicht Wine Cellar distriof Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) and Sasol. There are butes 2.4-million litres of wine five buildings on the site, training is provided, and companies have every year from Jacobsdal. access to Sasol’s diverse supply chains.

In 2018 Kevali Chemicals became the first Image: SAB Foundation 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

Manufacturing makes up 9% of Free State gross domestic Plastics. Boxmore Packaging’s product, and this comprises 4% of South Africa’s total. The Free State new PET beer bottles are the first Regional Industrialisation Policy is under review to ensure integration PET bottles specifically designof infrastructure, bulk service provision, industrial sites and export ed for beer on the South African and tax incentives to attract investment. market. Empire Gloves makes

The existing manufacturing sector covers chemicals, agro- industrial gloves. processing, textiles, carpets, engineering, packaging, furniture Kroonstad-based Octa and jewellery. Engineering makes specialised rail carriages for the mining

Online Resources sector. In Bloemfontein, Transnet

Chemical and Allied Industries’ Association: www.caia.co.za Engineering manufactures new

Free State Development Corporation: www.fdc.co.za wagons for the Transnet group,

South African Textile Federation: www.texfed.co.za including iron ore and cement wagons and fuel tankers. ■