South Africa’s Auto Jobs in focus: Wage Talks, Stability and Global Competitiveness.

Loading player...
GUEST: Abey Kgotle – Chairperson of the Automobile Manufacturers Employers Organisation (AMEO) and Executive Director of Human Resources at Mercedes-Benz South Africa

South Africa’s automotive industry the country’s largest manufacturing employer and a cornerstone of its export economy is at a critical crossroads. Wage negotiations between vehicle manufacturers and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) have stalled, raising the threat of a sector-wide strike that could ripple through supply chains, exports, and local communities.

Abey Kgotle, Chairperson of AMEO, unpacks the economic stakes behind the impasse and the delicate balance between worker welfare and global competitiveness. With global markets shifting toward electric mobility and local manufacturers battling rising costs, cheap imports from China and India, and export tariffs to the US, the need for multi-year labour stability has never been more urgent.
3 Nov 2025 3PM English South Africa Business News · Investing

Other recent episodes

Responsible Mining Must Put Communities and Ecology at the Centre

With the Mining Indaba in full swing, one of the key conversations should be focused on why South Africa’s pursuit of sustainable development in mining still remains uneven. While economic growth and investment imperatives continue to dominate decision-making, environmental protection and community wellbeing are too often treated as secondary considerations…
11 Feb 3PM 10 min

Beyond Numbers: The Human Side of Financial Success in Entrepreneurship

A study by FinScope MSME has highlighted that South Africa is home to around 3 million micro, small, and medium-sized businesses, employing an estimated 13.4 million people, making small businesses a critical part of the country’s workforce and economic future. To work towards curbing the challenges of entrepreneurship, there is…
11 Feb 1PM 11 min

Valentine’s Risk: What Couples Don’t Know About Money

As Valentine’s Day approaches, many South African couples are celebrating love, but few are talking about money. This is where problems often start. Reeona Chetty, Head of Advice at Vouch, unpacks the financial, legal and insurance blind spots couples face in South Africa, especially those living together but not married.
11 Feb 1PM 10 min

FlySafair–Harith Deal raises ownership, regulation and PIC questions

Low-cost carrier FlySafair’s acquisition by pan-African infrastructure investor Harith General Partners has placed the airline on the cusp of expanded growth opportunities across the continent, particularly through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and deeper commercial links with Europe, analysts said on Tuesday. Did FlySafair have no real choice…
11 Feb 1PM 10 min