Plans are underway to revive factories located in the former homeland administrations, which fell into disrepair after the political changes of 1994.
Dozens of factories in the country lie idle and some have been vandalised and turned into criminal hubs.
Industrial sites in Phuthaditjhaba, Qwaqwa, Babelegi in Hammanskraal, Thaba Nchu, Botshabelo, Mogwase, Nkangala and Garankuwa have been abandoned for years.
These factories, which manufactured steel, textiles and processed chemicals, among others, were deserted by investors, which led to massive job losses.
Free State MEC of the Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs and Finance in the province, Ketso Makume, told Sunday World they planned to revive factories in Qwaqwa, Thaba Nchu and Botshabelo.
“We are working towards reviving these factories. There are still factories that are in good condition, which, as a department, we are working hard to get investors to take over.
“We also have factories that were vandalised, and we need to dispose of them and start rebuilding them in order for us to assist our people to get jobs and grow our economy in the province.
“The most important role these factories played was in textiles, and we are looking for investors as that will give us a clear vision of where we are going with our plan and strategy.”
He also stated that in two weeks, he would go on a site visit to factories in Qwaqwa to assess the damage and look at measures needed to restore them.
“We have started to look for investors and there is a keen interest from foreign stakeholders and some of the factories are already functioning, where our people are employed.
“We are looking at having at least 10 factories operating by April next year in Qwaqwa, Botshabelo and Thaba Nchu,” he said.
ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba said he was talking to the ANC and the Gauteng government to deal with the vandalism of factories in Hammanskraal and GaRankuwa, which were formerly under the Bophuthatswana homeland.
“Those factories used to operate 24 hours, where our people were working for their families, and also these companies were contributing enormously to the economy of the country.
He said in his discussion with the ANC and the Gauteng government, he suggested that it would be advisable to allow the private sector to revitalise these factories.
Innocent Mofokeng of Makeneng in Qwaqwa said since the textile factory he used to work for in the area had closed down years ago, he had not yet been able to secure any job.
“We had great jobs through which we were able to provide for our families, but since the business shut down, we ended up facing struggles and poverty.
“It is tough and we hope we can have some businesspeople who can come and revive our factory so that we can work again,” said Mofokeng.
Joyce Mahamba stated that she used to work at Babelegi Industrial Park and since the factory shut down, she faced difficulties in making ends meet.
“Our government needs to consider doing something about these factories,” she said.
Spokesperson for the North West Department of Economic Development Jerry Matebesi said the North West Development Corporation (NWDC) said not all the factories in its industrial parks were vacant or in a state of decay.
“With regard to the alleged failure to revive, the NWDC, in collaboration with the DEDECT (department of economic development, environment conservation, and tourism), remains committed to ensuring that these facilities become viable economic hubs once again.
“It is important to highlight that while progress may not always be immediately visible, significant groundwork is being laid to ensure the long-term sustainability of these projects,” he said.
Matebesi said reviving the factories required a comprehensive approach that includes substantial investment, modernising outdated infrastructure, addressing utility concerns, and ensuring that the industries that occupy these spaces are aligned with the region’s economic development goals.
He said that the process is underway to explore strategic partnerships with both the private sector and other public entities to ensure that any revival efforts are financially viable and aligned with broader economic objectives.
Gauteng Growth and Development Agency spokesperson Lerato Sewpersad said engagements between the NWDC and Gauteng Department of Economic Development are ongoing to resolve issues related to the revitalisation of the parks to ensure sustainability, increased investment and job opportunities in these parks.
“We are sensitive to the plight of the affected communities and hope the engagement between the two provinces will result in the transfer of these assets for the benefit of our communities,” said Sewpersad.
