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The OR Tambo Special Economic Zone is an economic development program that is focussed on creating these opportunities with tax incentives and ease of access for international exports and investments.
Thoko Zwane – Founder of Thoko Diamonds (60 Sec)
Thoko Zwane started out as a polisher whilst she built the capital she needed to start Thoko Diamonds. Now, partnering with her son, Thoko’s hard work has turned her humble start and a lot of passion into a million dollar business, and sown the seeds of a family legacy for generations to come! She sees the SEZ has an opportunity to mentor and grow the capability and skills of young black women in this largely male dominated industry.
Vinay Someraand Sakib Khan – executives at Isondo Precious Metals (60 Secs)
Vinay Somera and Sakib Khan are executives at Isondo Precious Metals. Part of the metals beneficiations cluster at the SEZ, their company is not about luxury jewellery but rather about taking full advantage of the global shift towards green energy and significant business opportunity presented by Green Hydrogen which is reliant on South African-based platinum group metals. This fuel cell technology also has the ability to create new jobs and new revenue streams for the South African economy and Isondo is training a core of graduate interns with the skills to direct the industry globally
Nonthando Molefe – (60 Secs)
From Phatsima Jewellers graduated from the SEZ Design @50 Skills Studio where she learnt about international commercial jewellery and has been able to grow her business to take full advantage of the world’s interest in African luxury.
Corporate Overview
The OR Tambo Special Economic Zone is an economic development program that is focussed on creating these opportunities with tax incentives and ease of access for international exports and investments.
With an emphasis on jewellery manufacturing, health and pharmaceutical products, electronics, and fresh food products, the SEZ is designed to drive beneficiation and global competitiveness as a mechanism for inclusive socio-economic growth and transformation in South Africa.
The most established of the precincts to date is the precious metals cluster and it was here that SAINC met an array of inspiring characters and got to see their dynamic businesses in action. From Nonthando Molefe from Phatsima Jewellers who is using the opportunities provided by the SEZ grow her business her business globally; to the resilient determination of Kealeboga and Ursula Pule’s Nungu diamonds and Thoko Zwane who started out as a polisher and has built a million-dollar family business.
Fuel Cells is another new and exciting opportunity being pursued as part of the SEZ. With the rapid growth of the green energy industry, green hydrogen is fast becoming one of the biggest business drivers of our time and this green hydrogen relies on South African-based platinum group metals.
SAINC also had the chance to meet Vinay Somera and Sakib Khan to get a sense of how Isondo Precious Metals is working through the SEZ to drive this high tech innovation into full-scale manufacturing; whilst concurrently creating a core of graduate interns with the skills to go out and do this in the real world and develop an industry that creates new jobs, new revenue streams and helps the South African economy to re-industrialise.
The citizenry of Gauteng and South Africa are ambitious for growth and the OR Tambo SEZ demonstrates governments responsibility and commitment to work with the private sector to deliver on that promise.
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