Kwazulu-natal: Trade, Industry and Competition Deputy Minister Zuko Godlimpi will on Wednesday visit sugar mills in KwaZulu-Natal in preparation for the reopening of the Sugarcane Crushing Season in May. The Deputy Minister will commence his visit with the re-opening of the Gledhow Mill, following a R1.8 billion expansion by the new owners, a commitment announced at the South African Investment Conference held on 31 March 2026 in Sandton, Gauteng.
According to South African Government News Agency, Godlimpi will also sign Phase 2 of the Sugar Cane Value Chain Master Plan during the quarterly Executive Oversight Committee meeting. Phase 1 of the Sugar Industry Master Plan (SIMP) was created as a collaboration between the government, private sector, and labor to stabilize and transform the sugar sector.
The South African sugar industry is considered a strategic agro-processing value chain, crucial for supporting rural livelihoods, small-scale growers, and regional economies, especially in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga. The industry currently faces structural challenges, including potential mill closures that could severely impact cane growers, rural employment, and associated value chains.
Despite these challenges, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) and government development finance institutions such as the Industrial Development Corporation are committed to supporting the reopening of the sugar cane mills. This initiative aims to preserve jobs and sustain rural livelihoods in KwaZulu-Natal, recognizing that disruptions in the sugar industry operations could have adverse effects on livelihoods.
