Lerato Mailoane
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has declared the province’s commitment to becoming a pioneer in smart mobility and is calling on motor industry leaders to rally behind by establishing motor vehicle energy charging stations.
Speaking at the South African Auto Week, held at the Gallagher Convention Centre on Tuesday, Premier Lesufi emphasised the province’s readiness to address energy challenges. He revealed that the provincial government has allocated R1.2 billion towards rehabilitating energy generation stations.
“As Gauteng, we have been working on finding solutions to the energy crisis. We have established an energy crisis response team that engages with the National Energy Crisis Committee and works with local government and energy experts.
“We acted with urgency and convened the inaugural Energy Solutions Expo to solicit views on what exists in the market, with the idea of creating partnerships to assist in finding lasting solutions,” Lesufi stated.
The premier underscored the profound impact of the automotive sector on the provincial economy and urged industry stakeholders to join forces in addressing crime and lawlessness involving vehicles.
Moreover, Lesufi outlined plans to overhaul the car registration system in Gauteng by year-end by introducing a new secure, tamper-proof registration plate.
He highlighted the role of cars in violent crimes, both as stolen vehicles and getaway cars, emphasising the need for legislative improvements in car registration, the elimination of illegal firearms, and the transition to cashless transactions for local businesses.
“The province must focus on safeguarding our vehicles against crime, as 80% of criminal activities involve using vehicles,” Lesufi urged industry leaders.
The SA Auto Week event was hosted by the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (naamsa), the Automotive Business Council, and Auto Week, serving as the local automotive industry’s premier networking and thought leadership conference.
Naamsa CEO, Mikel Mabasa elaborated on the significance of SA Auto Week, stating that the event unites all industry stakeholders to reflect on achievements, contemplate the future, showcase cutting-edge technologies, and discuss current policy considerations.
“It also creates a platform to discuss and manage the challenges presented by the global and local economy together to ensure that the right decisions are made to support South Africa’s growth ambitions,” said Mabasa.
The South African automotive industry is recognised as the largest manufacturing sector in the economy, contributing approximately 4.9% to the annual GDP in the previous year.
It directly employs 497 408 individuals, both formally and informally, constituting 2.9% of the 16.2 million total workforce in South Africa, according to naamsa.
Furthermore, the SA auto industry’s export activities reached 152 markets and generated R227.3 billion in export revenue for the country last year.
“The local automotive industry makes an extraordinary contribution to South Africa’s prosperity, and that is why it is important to secure its viability and growth, now and into the future,” added Mabasa.
SOURCED FROM THE GAUTENG GOVERNMENT WEBSITE.
