Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) confirmed job cuts at its Silverton Assembly Plant in Pretoria and Struandale Engine Plant in Gqeberha. While the company did not disclose figures, trade union Solidarity reported that 474 jobs will be affected — 391 operator roles at Silverton, 73 at Struandale, and 10 administrative positions.
The company framed the decision as part of a broader strategy to “optimise production and respond to evolving market demands,” but the retrenchments come amid rising pressure on South Africa’s automotive sector.
The job losses are the latest blow to the Eastern Cape automotive industry, which has recently suffered the closure of Goodyear and ContiTech operations. Solidarity has warned that Ford’s decision could be a harbinger of further retrenchments in the sector if economic and policy conditions do not improve.
Solidarity deputy general-secretary Willie Venter stated that the retrenchments highlight the vulnerability of the local automotive sector to external and domestic pressures. These include global economic uncertainty, weakening consumer demand, and what the union views as unfavourable government policies undermining competitiveness. Venter warned that “serious intervention and economic reform” would be needed to prevent additional large-scale job losses.
As South Africa’s largest manufacturing sector, the automotive industry plays a critical role in employment, exports, and economic output. FMCSA is a major contributor, producing the Ranger bakkie for both domestic and international markets. Retrenchments at this scale, therefore, carry significant implications not only for workers but also for regional economies and supply chains.
