| #WeAreNAACAM: On Tuesday, 22 September 2026, Beth Dealtry, NAACAM’s Head of Policy and Regulatory Affairs, attended the Department of Small Business Development One National Plan Ministerial Business Breakfast in Gqeberha, which focused on the automotive sector. Hosted by the DSBD, the event brought together government, entrepreneurs, buyers and industry stakeholders to discuss the One National Plan and how to grow MSME participation in the automotive sector. In her remarks, Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams stressed that localisation must be more than a tick-box exercise if MSME participation is to grow. She added that South Africa must promote manufacturing rather than just assembly, asking, “How much of SA will be inside the cars we produce?” Marking Heritage Month, MEC Nonkqubela Pieters noted South Africa’s long automotive heritage, particularly in the Eastern Cape. She also noted the need not only to attract new investment but also to retain existing investment. Executive Mayor Babalwa Lobishe said Nelson Mandela Bay is well placed to champion the One National Plan, particularly in the automotive sector, and pointed to the work already under way in the metro to support MSMEs in the sector. Commenting at the breakfast, Beth emphasised the importance of the ongoing APDP2 and SAAM 2035 review in improving localisation performance and MSME inclusion in the automotive sector. She highlighted a localisation conditionality framework and aftermarket inclusion as two key levers. |
