The Gauteng Department of Economic Development (GDED) envisions a radical transformation to modernise and reindustrialise the economy in Gauteng, manifesting in decent work, economic inclusion and equity. To pursue this vision, the GDED establishes appropriate partnerships for delivery and ensures the GDED effectively delivers on its mission and mandate.    

It is intended that the collaboration between GDED and Commercial Aerospace Manufacturing Association South Africa (CAMASA) will assist in accelerating, enhancing and promoting GDED and CAMASA’s long-term employment creation, economic and sustainable development programmes. The parties commit themselves to collaborate on, but not limited to, the following focus areas:

• Small, medium and micro enterprise development
• Supplier development (incubation)
• Aeronautics manufacturing technical skills development 
• Aerospace Cluster Development Programme

CAMASA has a new leadership structure – to drive growth in aerospace, but also diversification, localisation and transformation.

At the recently held annual general meeting the following companies were elected to the Board of CAMASA:

• Aerosud Aviation (Pty) Ltd
• Aerotechnic (Pty) Ltd
• Incomar Aerospace & Defence Systems (Pty) Ltd
• Electrothread (Pty) Ltd
• Rapid 3D JV (Pty) Ltd
• Daliff Precision Engineering (Pty) Ltd 
• Dynamic Aerotech (Pty) Ltd 
• ADEPT Manufacturing (Pty) Ltd
• SIMTEQ Engineering Pty (Ltd.)
• Kutleng Dynamic Electronic Systems (Pty) Ltd
• Vaal University of Technology (VUT)
• Stellenbosch University

Message from co-chairperson Johan Steyn (Aerosud Aviation)

“The past two years have seen a significant amount of hard work, initially guided through the Public-Private Growth Initiative and later absorbed into the Aerospace (and Defence) Master Plan development. 

A coherently integrated and sound Master Plan was produced and agreed to by all role players – or was it? The constant delays and excuses to move forward to tangible implementation steps of the Master Plan remain mindboggling, to say the least – with severe impacts on the private industry’s ability to deliver on export projects.  

The Covid-19 pandemic affected the aviation sector globally and although a slow recovery is starting to take effect, the road to full recovery will be long and hard. In South Africa many hundreds of jobs were lost in the aviation manufacturing sector as a consequence.

On the positive side, in the South African and African context, CAMASA has identified a significant opportunity for the aerospace sector to play a bigger role in the future of green/renewable energy and the next generation of automotive requirements. This is especially important when considering the national strategy of localisation and economic transformation. This sector has a lot to offer South Africa.”