By Frans Sello waga Machate I Pretoria, South Africa
PRETORIA – When the final Nissan vehicle rolled off the Rosslyn assembly line last year, the fate of 692 families hung in the balance. Today, those fears were laid to rest. As Chery International officially acquired the historic manufacturing facility, the company made a pledge that resonated far beyond the boardroom; every single one of the existing employees would be retained, while the expansion would inject nearly 3,000 additional jobs into the surrounding communities of Mamelodi, Atteridgeville, Mabopane, Soshanguve, Olievenhoutbosch and Gauteng Province as a whole.
For Deputy President Paul Mashatile, the human element of this transaction was always paramount. “This factory is therefore a beacon of hope, skills, and future opportunities for the youth of Mabopane, Soshanguve, Ga-Rankuwa and Hammanskraal!” he declared in a stirring keynote address that shifted the narrative from corporate finance to community development.
Mashatile articulated a vision of industrialization that refuses to exist in an ivory tower. “This matters profoundly because industrialization must not happen far away from the people it is meant to uplift,” he told the audience of government officials, industry leaders, and labour representatives. “By locating new factories, supplier opportunities, training platforms and enterprise support so close to the communities here, we are making a clear statement that township residents must be direct participants in the economy of the future.”
This sentiment was echoed by Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, who framed the retention of staff as a marker of Chery’s integrity. “We appreciate the succession of nearly 700 employees who carry with them decades of experience. This is a firm commitment that you are here to stay,” Lesufi said, adding that the provincial government would continue to invest in the Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone to ensure the industrial ripple effects reach every corner of the province.
While the factory promises employment, it also promises evolution. The plant will not merely replicate the assembly lines of the 20th century; it is set to become a hub of advanced manufacturing, automation, and digitization. The event showcased AiMOGA Robotics, a key component of Chery’s smart ecosystem, deploying humanoid robot Mornine for on-site interaction and robotic dog Argos for intelligent services.
“Assembly by itself may provide only shallow employment,” Mashatile cautioned, making a clear distinction between basic assembly and genuine localization. “Prospects are better with localization because it creates significant job multipliers, broadens industrial ripple effects, and promotes skill development across generations.”
To this end, Chery is partnering with the government to ensure local suppliers receive capacity building, mentorship, and market access. The call was specifically directed at youth-owned enterprises to participate in logistics, components, and services, turning the factory floor into a classroom for the next generation of South African engineers and artisans.
Beyond the factory walls, Chery is embedding itself in the national fabric. As a major global partner of UNICEF, the company has committed US$12 million since 2023 to support global education programmes, with a specific focus on South African science and innovation projects. Programming and robotics courses supported by Chery are already being rolled out across the country, preparing students for careers in the tech-driven mobility sector.
Furthermore, under the “Cherish the Nature” global partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the two organizations announced a joint project launching in priority nature landscapes across South Africa. This commitment signals a holistic approach to investment, one that values biodiversity and ecosystem restoration alongside industrial output.
Mashatile concluded this section of his address with a poignant reflection; “The future of Rosslyn, and the greater promise of our country, rests heavily on the shoulders of our youth. Every skill they gain, every apprenticeship they take on and every innovation they master is a vital part of the infrastructure that will support the renewal of our country.”
