South African breweries are investing R510 million in Nelson Mandela Bay Muncipality

The Executive Mayor, Cllr Eugene Johnson, together with Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) of Economic Development Tourism and Agriculture, Cllr Mkhuseli Jack and MMC of Roads and Transport, Cllr Itumeleng Ranyele, met with a high-level delegation from the South African Breweries (PTY) Ltd (SAB) who committed to invest R510 million to upgrade its ibhayi Brewery in Perseverance.

SAB is of the view that Nelson Mandela Bay will benefit immensely from the investment as it will lead to 14,000 additional jobs through the value chain and will generate R2, 5 billion in additional GDP for the economy.

Advertisement

This is a massive boost in the economy of the Metro, which is recovering from the devastating COVID-19 pandemic, which cost many people their jobs.


 

 


The investment of R510 million is without question a catalytic business expansion by South African Breweries (Pty) Ltd and its parent company Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev), which will have a wide-ranging positive impact on the economy of Nelson Mandela Bay and the broader Eastern Cape. Firstly, by increasing the productive capacity of the region and, secondly, by creating direct and indirect work opportunities for the residents and smaller businesses of the Metro through various multiplier effects.

SAB, and the beverage and bottling industry in general, has been a long-standing investor in the City and continues to demonstrate the value and commitment it places in Nelson Mandela Bay as a business destination of choice. Investment expansions of this nature by our top investors such as SAB are a draw card for attraction and retention of investments in the Metro and, therefore, consistent with the Metro’s investment facilitation, attraction, and retention strategies.

Without significant private sector capital investments such as this commitment made by SAB, significant gains in innovation, skills development, and sustainable job creation at a national and local level are simply not possible.

Advertisement

The Metro commits itself to prioritising and expediting the timely implementation of SAB’s ‘Project Beyond’ investment in its regional operations and distribution network.

The Executive Mayor Eugene Johnson said, “ On behalf of the residence of the Metro, I am grateful and appreciate South Africa Breweries (Pty) Ltd and its parent company Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) for their continued confidence in the Metro and the Eastern Cape Province.“

The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality will continue to ensure that there is the ease of doing business in the City and wish SAB a warm welcome to this beautiful City named after our Icon, Nelson Mandela.

Issued on behalf of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Executive Mayor Eugene Johnson by Mayoral Spokesperson Tango Lamani.