Today at the 6th SA Investment Conference, Renai Moothilal, NAACAM CEO, participated in a panel discussion titled High Value Manufacturing.
The panel was moderated by: Mr. ayobambo kunle-salami, Regional Industry Manager, IFC – IFC – International Finance Corporation. Other panellists included:
• Mr. Moses Lubisi, Manufacturing & Technical Director, The Coca-Cola Company
• Ms. Gloria Serobe , Chairperson, Industrial Development Corporation
• Ms. Mokyanyetsi Violet Sithole, Director, Gibela Rail Transport Consortium
The session unpacked investment opportunities across automotive value chain, rail, food, and industrial, with a particular focus on the role of localisation, technology and skills in unlocking growth.
Key takeaways from Renai’s contribution:
Automotive component manufacturing remains one of the most critical levers to unlock economic value for South Africa, built on decades of competitive manufacturing capability.
Yet in 2025, while the sector saw recovery in vehicle sales and production levels, local content is contracting, currently at 38%, highlighting a significant need and opportunity to deepen localisation through technological and skills advancement.
In closing, Renai referenced a comparative study by IFC and InvestSA, which found that South Africa holds a distinct advantage: the ability to balance quality with cost, enabling the country to produce good-quality vehicles at a relatively low cost compared to competitors.
The message is clear: South Africa has the foundation, capability, and opportunity. The next step is deepening localisation, embracing technology shifts, and safeguarding competitiveness in a rapidly evolving global manufacturing landscape. #saic2026 #IndustrialGrowth #Localization #SouthAfrica #investsa
