President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to officially open the Newlyn PX Terminal and the Tetra Pak Manufacturing plant in Durban on Thursday as part of his investment promotion drive. These entities made pledges through the SA Investment Conference, an initiative led by him, “with an ambitious goal of attracting R1.2-trillion in investments over five years”, the presidency said. “The multi-modal rail terminal in Bayhead next to the Port of Durban pledged R2bn for the development of the largest multi-modal rail terminal in Africa
and has completed the last phase of the development exceeding the initial pledge by R2.6bn,” according to the presidency.

The Tetra Pak Group, the world’s leading food processing and packaging company with a presence in more than 155 countries, invested more than R500m in the manufacturing plant in KwaZulu-Natal in 2022. “Post the investment, the manufacturing plant is now the only state-of-the-art facility in Africa producing carton aseptic packaging for the domestic market and Africa export; meeting standards of sustainability; supporting a circular economy and propelling industrial growth,” the presidency said. “These investments will form a critical industrial base for SA’s recent commencement of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), for export opportunities.” Build One SA (Bosa) leader Mmusi Maimane is expected to announce the party’s Gauteng premier candidate during an event in Soweto, Johannesburg, on Tuesday.

Gauteng, which contributes nearly 40% to national GDP, is expected to be a battleground province in the May 29 election as opposition leaders including DA Gauteng leader Solly Msimanga, ActionSA Gauteng chair Funzi Ngobeni, EFF MP Mbuyiseni Ndlozi and Rise Mzansi national chair Vuyiswa Ramokgopa are positioning themselves to replace ANC Gauteng chair Panyaza Lesufi as premier.

Bosa will use the event to launch its “Build Gauteng” campaign aimed at addressing socioeconomic crises buffeting the country’s economic and financial hub. Also on Tuesday, Rise Mzansi national leader Songezo Zibi is set to lead a picket at the department of employment & labour in Tshwane. “During our engagements with communities, Rise Mzansi has been asked to take up the plight of people over the age of 35, who are blocked from applying for jobs and opportunities by virtue of an arbitrary age barrier, which communities across the country describe as ‘ageism’,” said Rise Mzansi national communication director Mabine Seabe. Zibi, a former editor of Business Day, will be joined by members of the political start-up’s national leadership collective, volunteers and organisers.