Cape Town Targets Manufacturing Growth with New Policy
Piece by James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth
Draft framework prioritises streamlined approvals and job creation, with public consultation open until 3 December.
At a local Cape Town factory this week, Alderman James Vos, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, unveiled the draft Manufacturing Support Policy, setting out a refreshed approach to attracting investment, supporting manufacturers, and creating jobs in the metro.
The policy builds on the 2018 Investment Incentives Policy but shifts the focus toward non-financial support and practical facilitation that investors say matters most.
“Cape Town is open for business,” Alderman Vos said. “Our Investment Facilitation Branch has been working to cut red tape and fast-track approvals. This new policy takes the next step by giving businesses the tools and support they need to grow and hire locally.”
While the 2018 incentives successfully drew investment, they were costly and sometimes led to limited job creation. Businesses told the City that faster approvals, guidance on permits, and hands-on facilitation were the support mechanisms they valued most.
The draft Manufacturing Support Policy proposes to:
- Expand support to all 33 industrial areas in Cape Town to promote balanced growth.
- Prioritise non-financial assistance, including streamlined approvals and active investment facilitation.
- Focus on creating sustainable jobs.
- Introduce targeted financial measures where they deliver real value, such as development application fee waivers.
- Offer a Generic Environmental Management Programme (GEMP) for Atlantis-based projects requiring biodiversity offsets.
“This is a practical, cost-effective, and jobs-focused policy,” Alderman Vos said. “It strengthens Cape Town’s competitiveness as a manufacturing hub while helping local residents access meaningful work.”
The draft policy is open for public comment until 3 December 2025.
Comments can be submitted at capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Have-your-say/Issues-open-for-public-comment/draft-manufacturing-support-policy.
