Manufacturing took centre stage this week at the inaugural Cape Town Manufacturing Summit, where business leaders, government officials, and investors gathered at City Hall to chart a dynamic future for the sector. Jointly hosted by the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape Government, the summit underscored the vital role of manufacturing in driving economic development, job creation, and long-term resilience.
In his keynote address, Alderman James Vos, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, emphasised that manufacturing is embedded in Cape Town’s identity and must remain a key driver of its economic strategy.
“I regard manufacturing as a key priority for Cape Town’s economic landscape,” said Alderman Vos. “This summit is about ensuring our industrial areas remain productive and competitive. These zones are the engine rooms of our economy, where jobs are created, where goods are produced, and where value is added.”
According to the latest Stats SA jobs report, the manufacturing sector employs approximately 337,000 people in the Western Cape. The sector is the third-largest contributor to the provincial economy, with Cape Town at the forefront of food and beverage processing, clothing and textiles, electronics, medical devices, and marine goods manufacturing.
Wesgro data shows that Cape Town produced 105 million garments in 2024—almost one-third of South Africa’s total garment production.
Despite a national GDP decline of 6% in manufacturing between 2014 and 2023, the City of Cape Town has taken a proactive stance to mitigate challenges such as load-shedding, port inefficiencies, and rising operational costs.
Alderman Vos highlighted initiatives like the inclusion of Blackheath Industrial in Eskom’s load curtailment programme, which has helped reduce operational pressures while lowering energy costs for manufacturers.
“This summit is not just about diagnosing problems—it’s about co-creating solutions,” he added. “We’re working with the private sector to determine the next steps for manufacturing in Cape Town and how to prepare a skilled workforce for future opportunities.”
The City’s Business Retention and Expansion programmes, strategic infrastructure investments, and industry partnerships were also spotlighted as key enablers in future-proofing the sector.
“Let’s continue to build an economy of hope—with purpose, pride, and strong partnerships,” concluded Alderman Vos.
The summit marks a significant step in positioning Cape Town as a competitive, innovation-led manufacturing hub poised for inclusive economic growth.
