Gqeberha: Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) have been urged to ensure that SEZs create job opportunities, particularly for the country's young people. This was the call made by the Chairperson of the Special Economic Zones Advisory Board, Fish Mahlalela, at the two-day SEZs CEOs Forum that was held at the Coega SEZ in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, from 18-19 August 2026.
According to South African Government News Agency, Mahlalela emphasized the importance of the discussions held over the two days and expressed confidence that they will manifest in actionable plans on the ground. These plans are intended to use SEZs as centers of industrialization, hubs of manufacturing, and academies of skills development. Mahlalela highlighted the crucial role of SEZs in providing infrastructure and unlocking opportunities for micro, small, and medium enterprises critical to job creation.
At the forum hosted by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), Mahlalela highlighted the timing of the forum, which occurred amid a national crisis of youth unemployment. The forum aimed to align SEZs' implementation plans with the new Spatial Industrial Development strategy's five-year implementation plan.
Mahlalela warned of potential consequences if youth unemployment is not addressed, noting the high unemployment rates in the country. He stressed that SEZs are essential in addressing this crisis and are expected to contribute significantly to reducing unemployment, especially among the youth.
He urged CEOs to establish skills academies within SEZs as part of the new model advocated by the Spatial Industrial Development Strategy. Additionally, Mahlalela called for prioritizing community involvement to ensure local support and participation in SEZ initiatives.
Maoto Molefane, the Acting Deputy Director-General of Investment and Spatial Industrial Development at the dtic, noted that the forum's discussions would facilitate the seamless implementation of the SID Strategy over the next five years. He emphasized the session's role in addressing national challenges like re-industrialization, low GDP growth, and high unemployment by attracting investments.
Molefane acknowledged that while SEZs are not a cure-all, they significantly drive industrialization and spatial development. He highlighted the achievement of the forum's objectives, noting the dtic's understanding of SEZs' plans for the next five years.
The five-year SEZs implementation plan involves converting over R380 billion of investment pipelines into operational investments, infrastructure development, operationalizing new SEZs, and strengthening capacity. Molefane stressed the importance of addressing challenges inhibiting SEZ growth, such as policy uncertainty, to ensure smooth program rollout.