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The South African government places industrial policy among the key interventions for driving growth. At its core is the manufacturing industry, which faces a rapidly changing global environment shaped by supply chain shifts, climate change, and technological advances. This calls for closer assessment of the implications for South Africa.

TIPS is hosting a three-part Development Dialogue series on key manufacturing subsectors, focusing on sustainability, technological change, and the evolving trade environment.

The first dialogue examined sustainability issues in the iron and steel, automotive, and plastics industries. The second dialogue explored how digitalisation, automation, and innovation are reshaping South Africa’s manufacturing sector. This final dialogue focuses on international trade trends and their implications for the country's industrial developments

Invitation

Development Dialgoue I South Africa's Manufacturing Subsectors: Findings from TIPS Research - Series: 3

Agenda

11h00 - 11h10 Welcome and opening remarks: Nokwanda Maseko
11h10 - 12h30 Presentations and Discussions
Gillian Chigumira (TIPS) - Insights from paper: International Trade Trends on Horticulture
Dr Michael Hector (TIPS) - Insights from paper: International Trade Trends on Food Processing
Lucas Mthembu (TIPS) - Insights from Paper: International Trade Trends on Clothing and Textiles
Dr Neva Makgetla (TIPS) - Discussant
12h30 - 12h55 Discussion
12h55 - 13h00 Closure

Speaker bios

Nokwanda Maseko is a Senior Economist at TIPS (Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies). Her work at TIPS is at the intersection of industrial policy, gender and the just transition.

Dr Neva Makgetla is a Senior Economist at TIPS. Makgetla has published widely on the South African economy and worked for many years in government.

Gillian Chigumira is a Senior Economist at TIPS, specialising in industrial development policy and inclusive economic growth in South Africa and across the SADC region, with expertise in national industry masterplans, sector strategies, and local and regional value chain analysis.

Dr Michael Hector is an economist in Sustainable Development at TIPS. His work focuses on green industrial policy and environmental governance, with a particular interest in the intersections between economic development, sustainability, and industrial policy in South Africa.

Lucas Mthembu is an Economist at TIPS. His work focuses primarily on industrial policy, as well as capital 

Decarbonising the South African economy in response to the impact of climate change and in line with the country's global commitments is already having an impact on the workers and associated communities in the coal value chain. TIPS is conducting research under multiple projects to assess the impact of the energy transition on coal workers and the necessary conditions for a just transition in line with the PCC’s Framework for Just Transition.

Elements of this research were presented at a Learning Event on 5 November 2025.

Nokwanda Maseko (TIPS) - Welcome and Opening Remarks

Chere Monisa (TIPS) - Attitudes of coal workers towards the Just Transition

Muhammed Patel (TIPS)  - Coal Sector Vulnerability Assessment

Simbarashe Mhaka  and Nothembi Mahlangu (JUST SA) - Existing Industry Provisions for South African Coal Workers in Transition

Gaylor Montmasson-Clair (Southern Transitions) - Discussant

TIPS is hosting a three-part Development Dialogue series on key manufacturing subsectors, focusing on sustainability, technological change, and the evolving trade environment. The first dialogue examined sustainability issues in the iron and steel, automotive, and plastics industries. The second dialogue focuses on technological change, looking at how digitalisation, automation, and innovation are reshaping South Africa’s manufacturing sector.

Invitation

Development Dialgoue I South Africa's Manufacturing Subsectors: Findings from TIPS Research - Series: 2

Agenda

Saul Levin (TIPS) - Welcome and opening remarks

Danae Govender (TIPS) - Insights from paper: Technological change in the electrical equipment industry

Luthandolwethu Zondi (TIPS) - Insights from paper: Technological change in the electronics industry

Lucas Mthembu (TIPS) - Insights from paper: Technological change in the clothing and textile industries

Dr Shawn Cunningham (TIPS/Mesopartner) - Discussant

Resources

Manufacturing Industries and Subsectors: Industry Studies

Industry Studies are available for the following sectors: Automotive, Capital Goods, Clothing and Textiles, Electrical Equipment, Electronics, Food Processing, Horticulture, Plastics, Steel, and Wood and Paper

Technological Change and Innovation System Observatory

The Technological Change and Innovation System Observatory project tracks and create awareness of disruptive innovation and discontinuous technological change by organisations in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors.

The impact of climate change and the decisions taken to reduce emissions will have an impact on workers and communities in multiple value-chains. TIPS, with funding from the UK-PACT Programme has undertaken research on five key value chains that will be impacted: Coal, petroleum-based transport, tourism, metals, and agriculture.

This research was presented at a Learning Event on 15 October 2025

Introduction and Welcome: Dr Saul Levin (TIPS)

SESSION ONE

• Danae Govender (TIPS) - Insights from Value Chains: Metals
• Nokwanda Maseko (TIPS) - Insights from Value Chains: Petroleum-Based Transport
• Michael Hector (TIPS) - Insights from Value Chains: Agriculture
• Tanya van Meelis (COSATU) - Discussant

SESSION TWO

• Muhammed Patel (TIPS) - Insights from Value Chains: Coal
• Kate Rivett-Carnac (Independent Consultant) - Insights from Value Chains: Tourism
• Dr Neva Makgetla (TIPS) - Discussant

TIPS is hosting a series of three Development Dialogues to present research on key manufacturing subsectors. The series will focus on three main areas: sustainability; technological change; and the evolving international trade environment.

The first Development Dialogue in the series presents findings on the main sustainability issues for the iron and steel, automotive, and plastics industries.

Invitation 

Development Dialgoue I South Africa's Manufacturing Subsectors: Findings from TIPS Research - Series: 1

Presentations

Nokwanda Maseko (TIPS) -  Welcome and opening remarks

Lesego Moshikaro-Amani (TIPS) - Insights from paper: Sustainability in South Africa's automotive industry

Seutame Maimele (TIPS) - Insights from paper: Sustainability in the iron and steel industry

Dylan Kirsten (TIPS) - Insights from paper: Sustainability in the plastic sector

Nomqhele Dube (NAACAM) - Discussant