KIA Motors is set to establish a parts manufacturing and assembly facility in Ntabankulu through a partnership with Ntabankulu Local Municipality and Ingwe TVET College. The project, still in its early stages, represents a major step towards transforming the area into a regional industrial hub and expanding job opportunities particularly for youth.
What Happened
The Ntabankulu Local Municipality, in collaboration with Ingwe TVET College, has entered into talks with KIA Motors to bring a manufacturing initiative to the town. The facility will not assemble full vehicles but will focus on producing and assembling specific automotive parts. This forms part of a long-term plan to transition the local economy from consumption-based to production-driven.
“Our conviction is that it is only a production economy that will open job opportunities for our people—not a consumption economy,” said Mayor P.T. Sobuthongo.
The initiative is expected to stimulate local employment and attract further investment into the Alfred Nzo District.
Official Response
Municipal leadership has described the development as “a breakthrough for industrialisation in the region.” According to the mayor’s office, the plant aligns with the municipality’s strategic goals of youth employment, skills development, and industrial diversification.
Ingwe TVET College will play a key role in training students and equipping them with the technical skills needed for employment at the new facility.
Community Impact
Residents of Ntabankulu have long called for sustainable employment and local development. This announcement has sparked hope among the unemployed youth and small business owners eager for economic spin-offs.
The project is expected to:
- Create technical and entry-level jobs
- Attract supplier and logistics companies
- Offer training opportunities through Ingwe TVET College
- Increase local economic activity
Further details about the timeline and scale of the project will be made public once formal agreements are signed.
