VSL Manufacturing has officially unveiled its new R750-million, purpose-built manufacturing facility adjacent to the Isuzu Motors South Africa (IMSAf) assembly plant in Struandale, supply pressed metal parts for the Isuzu D-Max.
VSL Manufacturing Director Vuyo Skweyiya says: “This facility represents the culmination of years of rebuilding, of restoring jobs and of proving that South African suppliers can compete at the highest level of global automotive manufacturing.”
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VSL Manufacturing was established in 2018 following the liquidation of Stateline Pressed Metal in Komani, which resulted in 123 job losses. Rather than accept defeat, retrenched employees, Skweyiya and business partner Deon van Zyl went out to secure funding from ABSA to acquire the company’s equipment and form VSL Manufacturing. Today, the business is 51% African female–owned, demonstrating a strong commitment to transformation and inclusive industrial growth.
In 2021 Isuzu appointed VSL to its supplier development programme. This partnership enabled VSL to scale its operations, increase its revenue five-fold in the 2021/22 financial year, and meet the rigorous standards required for global OEM supply.
With growth came increased pressure on VSL’s Manufacturing ageing Komani press line, placing future production capacity at risk. To safeguard jobs and ensure long-term competitiveness, VSL Manufacturing, supported by IMSAf, developed a comprehensive investment plan that was presented to the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), the Automotive Industry Transformation Fund (AITF) and the Black Industrialists Scheme (BIS).
This resulted in a R750-million capital mobilisation to establish the facility now located in Gqeberha.
Strategically positioned next to the IMSAf Manufacturing plant, the new facility delivers major production efficiencies, reduces logistics costs, enables real-time synchronisation with OEM operations and strengthens localisation within the South African automotive value chain.
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To date, the expansion has created 52 new jobs in Gqeberha, while the Komani operation continues to sustain 66 skilled employees, together forming a growing base of technical expertise and industrial capability in the province.
Billy Tom, President of Isuzu Motors South Africa, added: “At Isuzu, we are positioning ourselves for the economic growth of the African continent. We are building local capabilities that enable our operations here in Gqeberha to serve as an automotive manufacturing hub for the region.”
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