Ford may cut about 9% of jobs at two South African plants

Ford plans to cut more than 470 jobs at two plants in South Africa, just as imports of cars from India and China jump.

The US carmaker has sent an official notice to labour groups announcing its intention to lay off workers at its Silverton assembly plant in Pretoria and the Struandale engine plant in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape province, labour union Solidarity said in an emailed statement on Thursday.

Ford has about 5 300 workers in the two plants, according to data on the company’s website. The job cuts are another blow to an economy that has one of the highest unemployment rates in the world, and whose exports, including cars, are subject to a 30% tariff in the US. The central bank estimates the increased levies may cost about 100 000 jobs, with the automotive and agricultural industries most vulnerable.

“We see this announcement as possibly the