SA Politics Thread Part 10 : The GNU Has Crashed

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TheChamp said:
https://twitter.com/x/status/1939328428701782025
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Chery, the second largest Chinese carmaker in South Africa, is considering opening its own plant in South Africa to produce vehicles for the South African market, the rest of Africa and possibly even Europe.

Tony Liu, CEO of Chery South Africa, told Reuters that they see South Africa as a very important market for international expansion.

Chery Auto, BYD and Great Wall Motor (GWM), all Chinese companies, want to use low prices to make progress where others have struggled and see expansion in South Africa as a starting point for expansion across the continent.

Omoda and Jaecoo, two independent brands of Chery, are conducting feasibility studies to see if local assembly is possible, said Hans Greyling, the two brands’ general manager in South Africa.

Until now, it has not made sense for GWM, the largest Chinese carmaker in South Africa by sales, to manufacture parts locally as Chinese imports were cheaper, says chief operating officer Conrad Groenewald.

However, that is changing and outsourcing to a local manufacturer or building a local plant where the final finishing touches can be done on partially assembled vehicles are now options.

“I think now that we have economies of scale . . . we need to revisit our feasibility studies over the next 12 months,” he said.

Almost half of the 14 Chinese car brands currently available in South Africa were launched last year and more brands – Dongfeng, Leapmotor, Dayun and Changan – are entering the market soon.

Netwerk24 has asked the National Association of Motor Manufacturers (Naamsa) for comment several times on the impact of a new plant on the industry, but at the time of publication of this report, it had not yet responded.

Mikel Mabasa, CEO of Naamsa, did say in April that the South African motor industry contributes significantly to economic development, employment and industrialisation.

ALSO READ | ‘Tariff shock threatens jobs in SA motor industry’
Tough environment

The news comes amid various bottlenecks in the industry.

Nissan South Africa has had to emphasise several times that rumours that it will close its Rosslyn plant in Pretoria are just that – rumours.

A possible deadlock over salary increases for workers at South Africa’s vehicle manufacturing plants is also a source of concern.

Numsa, the country’s largest union, is demanding that employers, including BMW South Africa and the local subsidiaries of Toyota and Ford, grant a 10% increase for all its members over a three-year period.

In addition, there is currently a 25% import tariff that President Donald Trump has imposed on imported cars and certain parts.

The US is the third largest destination for South African car exports. South Africa exported cars and car parts worth R34.77 billion to the US in 2024.

Chinese vehicles are already doing well in SA

Faan van der Walt, CEO of WeBuyCars, said at the end of May that Chinese brands are in high demand at this company.

“Those vehicles offer good value for money and we receive few complaints about them.”

Van der Walt said last year that he estimated that by 2028, 40% of all new vehicles on South African roads would be of a Chinese brand.

“I believe that view even more now,” he says.

“I am constantly surprised by the number of Chinese brands entering the local market, although it is probably not all that surprising, because those vehicles are affordable and are getting more reliable every year.”

He believes that consumers will have to make more judicious purchasing decisions over time, especially if the Chinese vehicle market on local soil continues to grow.

“The market will correct itself in a natural economic way over time. If there are 20 different Chinese brands available over time, supply and demand will start to play a more traditional role.

“Certain brands will flourish and others will withdraw as consumer preferences develop. It is going to be important for local consumers to think carefully about which vehicle they want to buy. You cannot buy a brand that will no longer be available in our market within the next two or three years.”

• If comments are received, this will be updated.
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Well, if true, and they do open factories here, the traditional factories (VW, etc) will actually have strong and fair competition. And contribute to the economy.
 
Just listened to Neil de Beer, who made a fantastic point: The DA says they won't leave the GNU in order to prevent "doomsday" - but if they MONC Ramaphosa, we still likely end up with doomsday anyway. So they should have just left the GNU to begin with, instead of making empty threats.
 
Sultan Mustafa said:


Well, if true, and they do open factories here, the traditional factories (VW, etc) will actually have strong and fair competition. And contribute to the economy.
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And most importantly, prove once and for all that they have been holding us hostage with their overpriced cars, I want to hear the excuses when the Chinese build cars here that are cheaper than VW and the others.
 
callvm said:
Just listened to Neil de Beer, who made a fantastic point: The DA says they won't leave the GNU in order to prevent "doomsday" - but if they MONC Ramaphosa, we still likely end up with doomsday anyway. So they should have just left the GNU to begin with, instead of making empty threats.
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Proof that the only reason is the soft life they have become accustomed to, and all the job for pals and family, all the excuses are because they want to preserve that.
 
TheChamp said:
And most importantly, prove once and for all that they have been holding us hostage with their overpriced cars, I want to hear the excuses when the Chinese build cars here that are cheaper than VW and the others.
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Been taking us for a ride all these decades and now crying victim when they face competition. Have no sympathy.

These Germans are losing market share around the world too because they priced themselves out of the market, so it's not just an SA thing...
 
callvm said:
Just listened to Neil de Beer, who made a fantastic point: The DA says they won't leave the GNU in order to prevent "doomsday" - but if they MONC Ramaphosa, we still likely end up with doomsday anyway. So they should have just left the GNU to begin with, instead of making empty threats.
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there's literally no point to them leaving the GNU of own accord

force CR to fire them, sure
call for a vote of no confidence, hell yes!
but just quit like the ANC would like them to do anyway? no, it's f-ing stupid

the caveat here is they have to actually grow some balls and take the ANC head-on, no need to quit the GNU, but do SOMETHING!

... and no, issuing empty ultimatums and withdrawing from the "national dialog" is NOT doing something
 
TheChamp said:
MK has already indicated their willingness to support the motion, all that is left is for Zille to humble herself before the CIC and ask for his support.
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CIC will listen and do as he is told when uGogo speaks. He must respect his elders.
 
NarrowBandFtw said:
there's literally no point to them leaving the GNU of own accord

force CR to fire them, sure
call for a vote of no confidence, hell yes!
but just quit like the ANC would like them to do anyway? no, it's f-ing stupid

the caveat here is they have to actually grow some balls and take the ANC head-on, no need to quit the GNU, but do SOMETHING!

... and no, issuing empty ultimatums and withdrawing from the "national dialog" is NOT doing something
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Looks like the DA has opted for the tried and tested method, look like you are doing something, look busy, issue ultimatums, threats, call press conferences, threaten even more.

The masses always falls for it, all the time.
 
TheChamp said:
And most importantly, prove once and for all that they have been holding us hostage with their overpriced cars, I want to hear the excuses when the Chinese build cars here that are cheaper than VW and the others.
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Yeah, my main beef with the Chinese manufacturers was that they export to SA, almost drowning the local market, but they're just too high and mighty to open factories here.

And on the likes of VW, BMW and Toyota, I agree. 300k - 400k for a Vivo, while I can get almost any Suzuki (Suzuki is moering the other local competitors, although they're also part of Toyota Group) for lower than 400k (incl. SUVs or Sedans).
 
Sultan Mustafa said:
Yeah, my main beef with the Chinese manufacturers was that they export to SA, almost drowning the local market, but they're just too high and mighty to open factories here.

And on the likes of VW, BMW and Toyota, I agree. 300k - 400k for a Vivo, while I can get almost any Suzuki (Suzuki is moering the other local competitors, although they're also part of Toyota Group) for lower than 400k (incl. SUVs or Sedans).
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I have heard that one before from anti Chinese South Africans, while it sounds very reasonable, where was this beef all along when Hyundai, Renault, Honda, Opel, Kia, Peugeot, Citroen, Suzuki etc were selling cars here without having any local manufacturing?

It looks slightly hypocritical to all of a sudden have a problem when it's the Chinese if things were hunky dory all along.
 
TheChamp said:
I have heard that one before from anti Chinese South Africans, while it sounds very reasonable, where was this beef all along when Hyundai, Renault, Honda, Opel, Kia, Peugeot, Citroen,
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anti-Chinese South Africans? Wut?

On those brands you mention, which of them have ever reached the critical mass of VW, BMW, Toyota and now the Chery, etc, etc?

Opel has had a factory here (probably closed when GM left SA).

www.stellantis.com

Stellantis and the South African Authorities Sign Framework Agreement to Manufacture Vehicles in South Africa

Stellantis signs Memorandum of Understanding with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (t
www.stellantis.com www.stellantis.com
Seems tho the parent company of Opel, Citroen, Peugeot are opening a factory here in future, so that argument of yours won't last long?

Hyundai has a Benoni plant. Kia's parent is Hyundai...
TheChamp said:
Suzuki etc were selling cars here without having any local manufacturing?
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Suzuki is under the Toyota Group, so they could use their current factories for 'em. The Vitz and Celerio are almost exactly the same car.
TheChamp said:
It looks slightly hypocritical to all of a sudden have a problem when it's the Chinese if things were hunky dory all along.
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Now, the Chinese can also come and contribute to the economy. Everyone wins. ANC will especially coom since it isn't "evil West" company this time.
 

"correct path" LOL

  • Western Cape MEC Anton Bredell issued a notice to put the Knysna municipality under administration due to “systemic governance and service delivery failures”.
  • Knysna residents face prolonged water shortages, repeated sewage spills, and inconsistent refuse removal, with service quality “worsening over time”.
  • But Mayor Thando Matika maintains the municipality is on the right track.
Despite glaring service delivery challenges, Knysna Mayor Thando Matika believes the troubled council is on the “correct path”.
This week, Western Cape Local Government MEC Anton Bredell wrote to the municipality, intending to put it under administration “due to protracted and ongoing systemic governance and service delivery failures”.
He issued a notice of intention to put the municipality under administration in terms of Section 139 of the Constitution.
The MEC said the municipality was plagued by repeated sewage spills, prolonged water shortages and inconsistent refuse removal.

Knysna residents suffered a crippling water shortage in May and several areas had no supply for several weeks.
Bredell said: “The quality of municipal services is worsening over time, with the service delivery crisis becoming more frequent. It is foreseeable that basic service delivery will continue to degrade unless the Western Cape government intervenes in the municipality.”
But Matika, from the ANC, said although Bredell’s notice raised concerns, the municipality had “measurable progress” after the council adopted the Consolidated Executive Obligations Monitoring and Enforcement Framework (CEOMEF) in June last year.
“Let me be clear, Knysna municipality has not stood still,” he said.

“Since adopting the CEOMEF plan, we have taken decisive action to implement structural reforms and enhance service delivery.
“Over the past year, Knysna municipality has methodically implemented the Section 154 support plan and made notable strides in governance, infrastructure and environmental compliance. I introduced hands-on initiatives to reinforce transparency and oversight, such as the Friday site visits, which bring leadership directly to project sites and service hotspots.”
READ | ‘Quality of municipal services is worsening’: MEC threatens Knysna with administration
Matika claimed in December 2024, several infrastructure and environmental “milestones” were reached, including the revamped waste transfer station.
“Key mechanical systems such as conveyor belts and hydraulic equipment were repaired; odour management systems were reinstated; stormwater inspections and corrective maintenance enhanced runoff and odour management; [and] an external audit yielded a 91% environmental compliance score.
“By February 2025, the municipality had finalised the appointment of critical senior managers, achieved 97% completion of the Audit Action Plan, broadened the rollout of smart metering for both water and electricity, [and] tabled a budget-funding plan addressing sustainability beyond the 2024/2025 financial year,” said the mayor.
WATCH | ‘We run with buckets when we hear the truck’: Knysna residents battle water crisis
Matika added that a series of administrative and governance improvements were undertaken in August last year.
“As executive mayor, I reaffirm our commitment to cooperative governance and invite continued collaborative engagement with provincial and national entities.
“For our residents, the changes that include containerised waste collection, wastewater plant functionality, smart meters and stronger governance, are tangible proof of our turnaround.

“The journey is far from over, but Knysna is on the correct path. We are ready to sustain and accelerate this momentum, working together in the best interests of this community,” he said.
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