The Executive Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, Councillor Babalwa Lobishe, has taken urgent and decisive action in response to the looming closure of the Goodyear South Africa plant in the Metro, a move that could see more than 900 workers and families lose their livelihoods.
Lobishe led a high-level municipal delegation to engage with Goodyear management today, June 25. The delegation included the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Economic Development, Tourism and Agriculture (EDTA), Councillor Bassie Kamana, along with senior officials: Acting Executive Director for EDTA, Wandisile Makwabe; Acting Chief Operations Officer, Advocate Lonwabo Ngoqo; and Chief of Staff, Mlungisi Lumka.
In the meeting, the Executive Mayor expressed the Municipality’s grave concern over the potential job losses and stressed the local government’s commitment to intervene meaningfully. “We cannot afford to lose a single job in this struggling economy. Our communities and families depend on these jobs for dignity, stability and survival,” said Lobishe.
She further outlined the various support mechanisms available through Council, including the Municipality’s Incentive Policy, which is designed to support companies facing economic distress and to promote business retention, expansion, and investment in the region.
Goodyear management acknowledged the Municipality’s support and explained that global economic challenges remain the primary cause behind the anticipated closure. While the company admitted the outlook is bleak, they confirmed that they continue to explore possible alternatives to mitigate the impact on employees and the local economy.
“This engagement reflects our unwavering commitment to safeguarding jobs and supporting the sustainability of our regional economy,” Lobishe added. “We are calling on all partners, from provincial and national government to organised labour and business, to work together to find urgent and innovative solutions to save jobs.”
