The news that Goodyear South Africa is closing its manufacturing plant in Uitenhage/Kariega comes as a severe blow to the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro (NMBM) and the local economy.
More than a thousand workers and their families face an uncertain future.
This is a Metro where unemployment already stands at a staggering 33% and the number of job opportunities keeps waning year after year.
The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) in Nelson Mandela Bay has consistently cautioned the ANC/EFF coalition government to ensure proper service delivery and infrastructure maintenance. Companies such as Goodyear rely on dependable electricity, water and sanitation services to keep operating sustainably.
The harsh reality is that Nelson Mandela Bay’s infrastructure network is collapsing due to poor management, corruption and political incompetence.
Quick fixes are used instead of proactive infrastructure upgrades, leading to persistent power and water supply disruptions. This has a direct and detrimental impact on manufacturing enterprises. The Freedom Front Plus warned in the past that such practices would drive companies away and destroy jobs – a scenario that is now playing out.
The ANC/EFF coalition bears full responsibility for the decline in service delivery, which has created an unsustainable investment environment. It comes as no surprise that Goodyear, like many other companies, has decided to close its doors.
The Freedom Front Plus implores the Metro to review infrastructure priorities and focus on sustainable service delivery to retain businesses and enable them to thrive in the Metro.
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