The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) has expressed strong dismay following Goodyear South Africa’s announcement that it intends to discontinue manufacturing operations at its Uitenhage plant in the Eastern Cape. The company has issued a Section 189 notice, formally initiating the process for potential retrenchments. According to Goodyear’s Managing Director Paul Gerrard, the closure could impact at least 907 employees.

The decision is a major blow to the already vulnerable Uitenhage region, which has experienced recent industrial setbacks, including the closure of ContiTech, a Continental subsidiary operating in the same tyre and rubber sector. Numsa voiced concern that Uitenhage is increasingly resembling a “ghost town,” with job prospects deteriorating rapidly.

This development comes as the Eastern Cape grapples with a critically high unemployment rate of 41.9%, according to the latest figures from Statistics South Africa. The closure of one of the area’s key manufacturing facilities is likely to further exacerbate socioeconomic conditions in a region already facing severe economic distress.

Numsa stated it would take all possible steps to protect its members’ jobs and ensure fair severance packages if job losses proceed. The union reaffirmed its commitment to engage in consultations and negotiations, with the first meeting dates to be announced in due course.

The potential job losses underscore the fragile state of South Africa’s industrial base and the pressing need for economic diversification and stronger support for the manufacturing sector, particularly in high-unemployment regions like the Eastern Cape.