Investing in the future

Sumitomo Rubber South Africa (SRSA) is upgrading and expanding its Dunlop tyre manufacturing plant in Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, with an investment of R2 billion. The company launched the second phase of its investment last week.

The initial phase of R1,1 billion, which commenced in 2014, focused on the upgrading and modernisation of the plant’s capacity.

Phase two has an estimated value of R910 million and focuses on the introduction and manufacture of truck and bus tyres for commercial use.

This Dunlop-branded product line is currently being imported into South Africa from the Sumitomo Rubber Industries plants in Japan and China. This new investment will establish a suitable local manufacturing base and terminate the current import arrangement.  

The first group of an estimated 120 new employees needed over the next few years have been recruited. Phase two will attract a further 300 new employees, increasing employment at the plant to more than
1 200.

“Our investment underscores the confidence of our company’s foreign owners in South Africa as an investment destination. It reaffirms what is possible when government and industry work together in pursuit of mutually beneficial economic and industrial objectives,” says company CEO Riaz Haffejee.

“We will continue to support government with innovative solutions and constructive engagement; to overcome regulatory challenges and impediments crucial to our industry and the pursuit of employment generating, high growth and competitive industrial and manufacturing initiatives,” Haffejee concludes.