Ford SA Plans Over 470 Layoffs at Pretoria, Gqeberha Plants

Ford Motor Company's South African division plans to lay off over 470 employees at its Silverton car assembly plant in Pretoria and Struandale engine plant in Gqeberha as part of a production realignment to meet current and future market demands. The cuts include 391 operator positions in Pretoria, 73 in Gqeberha, and 10 administrative roles. Ford confirmed the layoffs, citing efforts to optimize production amid declining vehicle sales and increasing competition from imports, especially from India and China. The South African Solidarity union highlighted economic pressures, global political uncertainties, and unfavorable government policies as key factors weakening the industry's competitiveness, warning that further retrenchments may be inevitable without economic reforms. This announcement comes amid broader struggles in the South African automotive sector, which has seen multiple company closures and thousands of job losses over recent years. Other major manufacturers, including Mercedes-Benz, are also adjusting operations, underscoring the sector's ongoing challenges.