Gqeberha – Ford South Africa has issued notice of its intention to retrench 470 employees at its manufacturing plants in Pretoria and Gqeberha as part of a restructuring process.
The company said the retrenchments are linked to adjustments in production capacity to align with market demand. According to the notice, 391 operator positions will be terminated at the Silverton plant in Pretoria, 73 jobs at the Struandale engine plant in Gqeberha, and 10 administrative roles.
Trade union Solidarity, which confirmed receipt of the notice, said Ford is undertaking consultations with unions and offering voluntary separation packages to affected staff.
The retrenchments come at a time when South Africa’s automotive sector is under strain from new US tariffs on exports. While Ford’s local operation does not export to the United States, the company said it must “make necessary adjustments” to optimise operations.
Solidarity’s deputy general secretary, Willie Venter, warned that the Ford retrenchments could be the start of a wider jobs crisis in the automotive industry. He said economic pressures, political uncertainty, and government policy have weakened competitiveness.
In April, the US imposed a 25 percent tariff on South African vehicle exports, on top of an existing 10 percent tariff. By August, the rate had climbed to 55 percent after Pretoria failed to secure a trade deal. The United States Census Bureau reported that South Africa’s vehicle and parts exports to the US had already dropped by 55 percent this year compared to 2024, falling from R17.7 billion to R8 billion.
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