By Anita Dangazele
- More than 900 workers lost jobs when Goodyear stopped making tyres at its Kariega plant in August.
- The government needs technical partners to buy operations and keep production going, but investors may come too late.
The government is racing to find someone to buy the Goodyear factory in Kariega before it closes for good next month.
More than 900 people lost their jobs when the tyre company stopped making tyres on 15 August. Goodyear will shut the doors completely on 15 October.
Trade deputy minister Zuko Godlimpi told Parliament on Wednesday that the government cannot save the factory alone. He said they need a technical partner who knows how to make tyres.
The company has already paid workers their severance money. But Goodyear says it will still meet with anyone who wants to make an offer.
Godlimpi said Goodyear is closing factories around the world to cut costs. The company already shut down in Malaysia and plans to close a German factory next year.
“Goodyear will now use plants in Asia to supply markets, including South Africa,” he said.
The Industrial Development Corporation sent a letter in August saying the government was willing to buy the operations. But Goodyear told them it was too late because they had already closed and paid workers.
One possible investor said they could only visit in December. This may be too late to save the Kariega factory.
Godlimpi said the government is also looking for other tyre companies to come to South Africa. He wants to make sure the country does not lose the ability to make tyres completely.
The company says any buyer cannot use Goodyear’s technology to make tyres in South Africa.
Pictured above: The Goodyear plant in Kariega.
Image source: Goodyear SA
