By Akani Nkuna
President Cyril Ramaphosa has welcomed Toyota South Africa’s R10.4 billion investment in the production of the ninth-generation Hilux, describing it as a major vote of confidence in the country’s manufacturing sector, skilled workforce and long-term economic prospects.
Speaking at Toyota’s Prospecton plant in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, on Wednesday, Ramaphosa said the investment would strengthen South Africa’s automotive industry, expand localisation and support thousands of jobs.
“The R10.4 billion investment in the new-generation Hilux programme demonstrates precisely the type of investment that South Africa seeks to attract,” Ramaphosa said.
“These world-class facilities further strengthen Prospecton’s position within Toyota’s global manufacturing network.”
He said the value of the investment extended beyond infrastructure and equipment.
“The true measure of this investment is not found in machinery or buildings. Its true value lies in the opportunities it creates. It lies in the thousands of South Africans whose livelihoods depend on this plant.”
Ramaphosa described the Toyota Hilux as one of South Africa’s most trusted vehicle brands, saying its durability and suitability for the country’s varied terrain had earned it widespread public support.
He said the launch represented more than the introduction of a new vehicle model, reflecting continued industrial development and confidence in South Africa’s manufacturing capabilities.
The President noted that about one-third of Toyota’s investment had been allocated to strengthening local supplier capacity and tooling, while component manufacturers had invested a further R2 billion to expand localisation.
“That is how resilient industrial ecosystems are built,” he said.
Ramaphosa said the project demonstrated South Africa’s ability to convert investment commitments into tangible economic outcomes by strengthening manufacturing capacity, creating jobs and supporting long-term industrial growth.
He said major industrial projects also created opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises, expanded local manufacturing and broadened participation across the economy.
“The automotive industry remains one of the great pillars of South Africa’s industrial economy,” he said.
“It contributes around five per cent of our gross domestic product. It supports more than 115,000 direct manufacturing jobs and over half a million jobs across the value chain.”
Ramaphosa said maintaining South Africa’s competitiveness would require continued collaboration between government, vehicle manufacturers, organised labour and suppliers, particularly as the global automotive industry transitions to cleaner technologies.
He said government would continue supporting value-chain development, localisation, research and skills development for new-energy vehicles while creating an investment environment that encourages long-term industrial growth.
Ramaphosa also said South Africa was well positioned to become a global leader in future mobility by leveraging its mineral resources alongside advanced manufacturing and technological innovation.
“If we combine these natural resources with advanced manufacturing, local beneficiation, technological innovation and world-class automotive production, South Africa can become a leading global hub for future mobility,” he said.
Ramaphosa added that government remained focused on strengthening institutions, implementing structural reforms, improving infrastructure and maintaining a stable macroeconomic environment to attract further investment and expand South Africa’s role in global markets.
Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau, Toyota South Africa Motors CEO Andrew Kirby and KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli attend the Toyota Hilux line-off ceremony at Toyota South Africa Motors’ Prospecton plant in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, on Wednesday. PHOTO: GCIS
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