The newly appointed Special Economic Zones (SEZ) Advisory Board has received an expression of confidence by the Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Zuko Godlimpi.
Godlimpi said he expected the board would make a meaningful contribution to strengthening the SEZ programme and advancing South Africa’s broader economic transformation.
He was speaking during an induction workshop for the board hosted by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) on Wednesday.
Godlimpi described the induction as foundational and not just procedural.
“The purpose is to ensure that the Board and all its members have a shared understanding of the SEZ legislative framework, the Spatial Industrial Development Strategy, and the broader implementation plan that guides the SEZ Programme in South Africa.
“Historically, the SEZ Advisory Board has also played a critical role in strengthening governance and accountability within the SEZ Programme, and in guiding the transition from the Industrial Development Zone model to the broader SEZ framework,” said Godlimpi.
The SEZ Advisory Board was established through legislation to provide strategic advice to the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, on the development and implementation of the SEZ Programme. Its responsibilities are extensive and central to the success of the programme.
Godlimpi told board members that their key functions included advising him on policy and strategy, monitoring implementation of the SEZ policy and reviewing applications for SEZ designation. They must also assess the performance of existing zones and make recommendations on investment promotion and operational matters.
“To date, South Africa has designated twelve special economic zones, of which nine are already operational.
“As at the end of the third quarter of the 2025/26 financial year, these operational zones host 224 investors, representing a cumulative investment value of approximately R31.744 billion and supporting 28 821 jobs.”
He added that the progress reflected a steady expansion of the programme. “Over the eight-year period from the 2018/19 financial year to date, operational SEZ investments have recorded net cumulative growth of approximately R17.234 billion.”
Godlimpi said that it told an encouraging story and demonstrated that the SEZ model was capable of attracting domestic and international investors and that targeted industrial infrastructure could stimulate productive activity.
“The country is facing real challenges, which are unemployment, slow growth, and structural inequality. However, we also possess significant opportunities, abundant natural resources, strong institutions, and a strategic position within the African continent.
“The SEZs afford us a practical mechanism to convert these opportunities into tangible outcomes.”
