The revamped Rosslyn facility will equip young South Africans with advanced manufacturing, robotics and electric vehicle skills to strengthen the country’s automotive sector
As South Africa looks to strengthen its manufacturing sector and improve industrial competitiveness, the Gauteng Provincial Government has officially relaunched the Gauteng Automotive Learning Centre as the Manufacturing Centre of Excellence in Rosslyn, Pretoria.
The facility was unveiled by Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi alongside Gauteng MEC for Economic Development Vuyiswa Ramokgopa, City of Tshwane Deputy Mayor Eugene Modise, Automotive Industry Development Centre (AIDC) Gauteng Board Chairperson Meloney van Eck and AIDC Gauteng CEO Andile Africa.
The upgraded training centre has been designed to prepare young people for the future of manufacturing by providing practical, industry-focused skills that align with the needs of South Africa’s evolving automotive sector.
According to Lesufi, the centre will provide hands-on technical training for young people, particularly those from disadvantaged communities, helping bridge the gap between education and employment while supporting the province’s broader industrialisation agenda.
The revamped facility features high-tech learning infrastructure centred on lean smart factory manufacturing and has been developed to meet the demands of modern production environments. Training programmes will focus on advanced manufacturing technologies, automation, mechatronics, robotics, lean manufacturing and new energy vehicle (NEV) technologies.
In a statement released by AIDC Gauteng, Africa said the centre is intended to position Gauteng’s automotive workforce for the future.
“The Centre of Excellence ensures that Gauteng’s automotive workforce becomes highly competitive, agile and explicitly prepared for the future of global production.”
The initiative comes at a time when manufacturers are increasingly adopting Industry 4.0 technologies to improve productivity, efficiency and competitiveness. As automation, digital manufacturing and electric vehicle production continue to reshape global supply chains, the demand for highly skilled technical workers is expected to grow significantly.
For South Africa’s automotive industry, one of the country’s largest manufacturing sectors, the availability of skilled artisans, technicians and production specialists will be critical to attracting investment and maintaining competitiveness in international markets.
Beyond skills development, the Manufacturing Centre of Excellence is expected to support localisation efforts by strengthening the talent pipeline needed to sustain advanced manufacturing and future mobility industries. The investment also reinforces Gauteng’s position as South Africa’s automotive manufacturing hub, where vehicle assembly plants and component manufacturers play a significant role in the country’s industrial economy.