IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

MEDIA RELEASE                                                                                                   

21 April 2023                                                                                        

Coega Special Economic Zone Income was R14,3bn in 2021

Coega Special Economic Zone (SEZ) investors made R14,3 billion income, according to the latest Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) report. The total income had an annualised increase of 9,0% over the income reported in the corresponding survey of 2018 (R11,0 billion). Between 2018 and 2021, manufacturing lost 7,9 percentage point share of income, from a contribution of 78,3% in 2018 to 70,4% in 2021.

The Coega Special Economic Zone Report was handed over by Stats SA to Coega Development Corporation at Coega Business Centre in Zone 1 of the SEZ in Gqeberha on Friday. The Coega Special Economic Zone survey measured the economic activities of investors in the SEZ for the financial year ending 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021.The survey measured income, employment, capital expenditure, and value of imports and exports in the SEZ.

“The Coega SEZ Report contains valuable data on the value of imports and exports, number of employees, expenditure on investments, and employment levels according to skills categories,” said Statistician-General of South Africa Risenga Maluleke.

The report was handed over to Coega Development Corporation by Stats SA Deputy Director General Ashwell Jenneker at the Coega Business Centre in Zone 1.

Accepting the report, Coega’s Chief Knowledge Officer (Acting), Veronica Monyobo said the report would develop SEZ’s insights on investor performance and how the organisation functions in relation to investor management and issues within the SEZ.

“It also provides the organisation with a baseline from which it develops strategies in relation to other initiatives that will significantly contribute to the efficiencies of the SEZ,” said Ms Monyobo.

Coega strives to contribute significantly in terms of the economic development within the province and beyond. The Coega SEZ Census Report is pivotal in understanding the provincial gross value added by the SEZ and whether there is viability for further SEZ expansion.

Number of tenants

The total number of tenants reporting in the Coega Special Economic Zone in 2021 was 36, this represents a drop of three enterprises when compared to 2018 (39 enterprises). There were more ‘non-manufacturing’ enterprises (21 or 58,3%) compared to ‘manufacturing’ enterprises (15 or 41,7%).

Employment

The total number of persons employed (including employees employed through labour brokers) in the Coega Special Economic Zone as at the end of June 2021 was 8 046 (798 more employees compared to 2018).

Expenditure

Total expenditure in the Coega Special Economic Zone in 2021 was R13,5 billion compared with R10,8 billion in 2018 (an annualised increase of 7,5%). The largest contributors to the total expenditure were ‘purchases’ (R8,3 billion or 61,9%), ‘salaries and wages’ (R1,6 billion or 11,9%) and ‘depreciation’ (R1,2 billion or 8,6%).

The total capital expenditure on new assets in the Coega Special Economic Zone for 2021 was R499 million compared to R606 million (an annualised decrease of 6,3%). The largest categories of capital expenditure were ‘capital work in progress’ (R170 million or 34,0%) and ‘plant, machinery and equipment’ (R77 million or 15,3%).

Ends/

Issued by Statistics South Africa

For technical enquiries contact:

Nonzukiso Stemela: Tel: 043 707 4953

Email: Nonzukisost@statssa.gov.za

For media enquires contact:

Ms. Felicia Sithole: Cell: 0764300693

Email: felicias@statssa.gov.za