New M-TEC Factory Hailed As A Boost For Industrialisation And Job Creation

23 October 2025 | Vereeniging, South Africa – South Africa’s drive towards industrialisation and inclusive economic growth received a major boost with the official launch of M-TEC’s new R110 million manufacturing plant in Vereeniging. The investment, which will produce a range of copper products, low and medium voltage power cables, and optical fibre cables, has been hailed as a significant show of confidence in the country’s economy.

Speaking at the launch, Mr. Lester Bouah, Chief Director of Investment Mobilisation at Invest SA, an agency of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), described the investment as a strong endorsement of South Africa’s industrial policy and its commitment to localisation and job creation.

“The dtic’s annual performance plan is targeting a R50 billion increase in the procurement of locally-manufactured goods and services,” said Bouah. “We urge M-TEC to use this investment to contribute to this import replacement target by increasing its procurement of components and services from local manufacturers and service providers. We encourage more firms to follow M-TEC’s lead in collaborating with the dtic and embracing localisation.”

Bouah further praised the initiative as a “great transformation story for South Africa,” noting that M-TEC’s ownership structure reflects growing participation by previously disadvantaged professionals in an industry traditionally dominated by white and male players.

M-TEC is the result of a strategic partnership between Taihan Cable and Solution, a Korean company, and South Africa’s Community Investment Holdings (CIH), chaired by renowned business leader Professor Anna Mokgokong. The partnership sees CIH holding a 51% stake in the company, making it a proudly South African-led enterprise with global technical expertise.

The partnership aligns with the objectives of the Cables Industry Manufacturers’ Forum, a collaborative initiative between the dtic and the Association of Electrical Cables Manufacturers of South Africa (AECMSA), which seeks to advance localisation, competitiveness, and import substitution in the cables sector.

Professor Mokgokong emphasised M-TEC’s commitment to community development and job creation, particularly in the surrounding areas of Vereeniging.

“We aim to keep our manufacturing capability busy 24 hours a day. This will enable us to feed many mouths and reduce the government’s social support burden,” said Mokgokong. “We need to get South Africans to work and earn a decent living through honest means. The more procurement opportunities we get, the more jobs we can create and the more revenue can feed the fiscus.”

The launch of M-TEC’s facility represents more than just industrial expansion—it underscores the country’s dedication to inclusive economic transformation, local value chain development, and long-term job creation.

As South Africa’s seventh administration intensifies efforts to drive reindustrialisation and stimulate local manufacturing, investments like M-TEC’s stand as powerful examples of public-private collaboration delivering tangible economic impact.