KwaZulu-Natal’s automotive sector has been urged to establish robust leadership pipelines to remain competitive, stable, and sustainable.
This was the central theme at the Durban Automotive Cluster (DAC) Annual General Meeting (AGM), held yesterday, 18 May, at the Toyota Wessels Institute for Manufacturing Studies.
The event, themed “Engineered to Last: Succession Planning for KZN’s Automotive Future”, brought together prominent industry stakeholders and manufacturing leaders to address succession planning and leadership continuity as critical regional priorities.
Following the keynote address, an interactive panel discussion unpacked actionable strategies for developing local talent and future-proofing automotive firms.
Industry leaders, including Paul Vermaak from Hesto Harnesses, shared insights on strengthening leadership continuity, building sustainable skills pipelines, and enhancing overall value chain resilience.
The panel emphasised that proactive leadership transition planning is essential to maintaining the region’s manufacturing excellence.
Durban Automotive Cluster Chairperson Andrew Valemen said: “The Durban Automotive Cluster remains committed to strengthening collaboration, investing in skills development, and building robust leadership pipelines. Through initiatives such as the Automotive Management Development Programme, we are actively preparing the next generation of leaders to ensure the long-term resilience and competitiveness of the sector. We remain confident that, through continued partnership between industry, government, and stakeholders, KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa can position themselves as globally competitive automotive manufacturing hubs.”
Deputy Head in the Economic Development Directorate, Takalani Rathiyaya, said the AGM provided an important platform to review the automotive industry’s performance over the past year and outline priorities for the new financial year.
He said the theme of succession underscored the importance of strengthening people, systems, and institutions to ensure the long-term sustainability and growth of the sector.
Rathiyaya further expressed optimism for the upcoming financial year, highlighting continued collaboration between the Durban Automotive Cluster, eThekwini Municipality, and industry stakeholders.
The 2026 DAC AGM successfully demonstrated that by prioritising leadership capability, KwaZulu-Natal’s automotive industry is actively engineering a stable, competitive, and sustainable future.
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