General Motors celebrates 20 years of democracy in South Africa
Port Elizabeth – As South Africa celebrates 20 years of democracy on Freedom Day 2014 (27 April), General Motors SA also looks back on two decades in which it has grown alongside the country as a major investor, employer and agent of socio-economic change.
Celebrating its 20 year anniversary this year, the GM South Africa Foundation was established on the eve of the first democratic elections in 1994 with a mission to facilitate the socio-economic transformation that was – and still is – needed to ensure a stable and sustainable democracy.
The Foundation’s work in developing replicable models for low-cost housing and education development has directly impacted more than 125 000 people over the past 20 years, and indirectly affected many more said Denise van Huyssteen, Communication Manager, General Motors Africa. “Its significant contribution to socio-economic development in South Africa is regularly recognised with national and international awards”, Van Huyssteen said.
In addition to the social upliftment programmes, investment in production continued during this time. In 1996 the company opened its brand new, advanced, state-of-the-art production facility at Struandale which began manufacturing the Opel Corsa. Today the facility boasts a world class paintshop and manufactures Chevrolet Spark, Utility and the Isuzu KB.
It is also during these two decades that General Motors, who had disinvested from South Africa in 1986 due to political pressure, returned to the country. Ten years after the management buy-out, with South Africa firmly in a new democratic era, the General Motors Corporation purchased a 49% stake in Delta Motor Corporation in 1997 and returned to the country in full force when it bought the remaining shares in 2004.
Van Huyssteen said the return of GM to South Africa had ushered in a major expansion phase for the company, with investments of more than R4-billion in new vehicle assembly programmes and construction of the high-tech Vehicle Conversion and Distribution Centre in Aloes followed by the state-of-the-art Parts Distribution Centre in the Coega Industrial Development Zone.
The company is a major employer and role-player in the business community of the Eastern Cape and South Africa, directly employing 1 800 people at its Africa headquarters in Port Elizabeth, along with sales and marketing and regional offices in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. It is indirectly responsible for thousands more jobs in the supply chain and through its network of 133 dealers across the country.
“In the past decade, GMSA has performed consistently in terms of sales and awards for quality and customer satisfaction. We have consolidated our African operations in South Africa, Kenya and Egypt under GM Africa and are expanding strategically into the emerging markets of the continent. We are focusing strongly on aligning our product portfolio to customer needs, strengthening our continent-wide distribution network and ensuring a strong sales and service network to support our customers where they are.
“Our history mirrors South Africa’s history and we are proud of the role that we play in the continuing growth of South Africa as a major economic role-player on the African continent,” she said.
