Ford auto-manufacturing company South African unit has announced plans to lay off more than 470 employees as it seeks to realign its production capacity to meet current and future market demands. The announcement was made on Thursday in an official notice sent to the South African Solidarity union and other representative unions.
According to Solidarity, the job cuts will affect 391 operator positions at the Silverton car assembly plant in Pretoria, 73 roles at the Struandale engine plant in Gqeberha, and 10 administrative positions.
This unfortunate development comes as Africa’s leading economy continues to struggle with high unemployment rates; as of the second quarter of 2025, the country’s official unemployment rate stands at 33.2% – representing over 8.3 million people who are actively looking for work but cannot find it.
Meanwhile, Ford Motor stated that the changes are part of ongoing efforts to “optimise production and respond to evolving market demands.”
Over the past two years, South Africa’s automotive sector has experienced the closure of 12 companies and the loss of over 4,000 jobs.
The all white trade union Solidarity’s deputy general secretary, Willie Venter, expressed concerns that the layoffs could be the start of a broader trend of job losses within South Africa’s automotive industry.
He attributed the industry’s declining competitiveness to economic pressures, international political uncertainties, and unfavorable government policies.
