For born-and-bred Port Elizabeth woman, Thembisa Ngxale, working at Chinese automotive giant First Automotive Works (FAW) South Africa, in Zone 2 of the Coega Industrial Development Zone (IDZ), is a dream come true as well as an indication of growth potential in Nelson Mandela Bay.
Ngxale was employed just over a month ago in April as a warehouse stock controller at FAW SA’s new truck assembly plant in the Coega IDZ.
She is excited about using her skills to help grow FAW SA and contribute to her local community. “I have so much to offer my community and FAW, where there is a strong learning curve for employees. The company is new and it’s a good place for someone who wants to gain more experience in the automotive sector,” Ngxale said.
As an only child, Ngxale grew up in Zwide but now resides at Coega’s Vulindlela Accommodation and Conference Centre (VACC) so she can live “closer to work”.
After matriculating she graduated with a BTech in Logistics Management from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU). She later developed a passion for adult education which led her to completing a Life Skills course at East Cape Midlands College.
“I wanted to gain more experience in logistics management and to develop myself and other people,” she said, adding that it was this drive that led to her employment at FAW SA.
Ngxale applied for work at Coega, with FAW in mind, through its Gateway2Opportunity jobs portal, www.g2o.co.za, indicating the effectiveness of the website platform in communicating about opportunities available at the Coega IDZ.
“I was very happy to get the job – it builds on my prior experience and I get to work in a dynamic environment and learn new systems and ways of doing things.”
Prior to working at FAW SA, she gained experience working as a trainee logistics manager at a retail store (Spar DC) where she worked in the receiving warehouse. She also worked at Volkswagen South Africa in Uitenhage as a buyer for two years.
“My new job also shows that there are real opportunities, especially for work, coming from the Coega IDZ and the investment it is attracting.”
As the warehouse stock controller at FAW SA, her duties include keeping stock records, receiving stock and ordering when stock is depleted.
Ngxale who enjoys interacting with people also loves new challenges. She has experience as a teacher’s assistant which she gained at a local high school, Sakisizwe High, and on weekends she gives back to the community working with a non-governmental organisation, Protech, offering a course called World at Work where she educates young people about what to expect when entering the job market.
“There is a big gap in the communities when it comes to life skills and I’m passionate about sharing my experiences.
“Thank you FAW for changing my life and those of people I am now going to provide necessary support,” Ngxale said.
FAW Human Resources Generalist Kobie Jacobs said: “Thembisa is highly qualified. Her ambition and willingness to go the extra mile has relieved the processes of stock controlling in the warehouse. She has sufficient knowledge of the position and we are proud to have her on board.”
FAW South Africa has about 50 positions open at the Coega plant. These include vacancies for vehicle assemblers, vehicle adjustment technicians, truck cleaners, vehicle assembly fitters, welders, sandblasters, stock controllers, handling workers, equipment maintenance assistants, commercial vehicle stock controllers, technical mechanical engineers, final product vehicle inspectors, maintenance technicians and drivers.
The Coega Development Corporation (CDC) has been intimately involved in the recruitment and selection process of employees at the FAW South Africa assembly plant through its specialised unit for recruitment and placements, Coega Human Capital Solutions (HCS), which is assisting FAW SA to “mobilise their local workforce”.
“Coega is committed to socio-economic development of Nelson Mandela Bay and the greater Eastern Cape. The whole reason for establishing the Coega IDZ, besides the need to attract investment so we can diversify the local and national industrial base, was to create jobs,” said Dr Ayanda Vilakazi, CDC head of marketing and communications. “We are proud to see this in action at FAW SA and congratulate Thembisa on her new job.”
Overall, FAW South Africa has invested R600-million in the Coega IDZ, through joint funding provided by FAW and China-Africa Fund. The truck plant, the first phase of FAW South Africa’s development in the Coega IDZ, is expected to produce 5 000 trucks annually. The second phase will all depend on the success of Phase 1. The FAW SA assembly plant will be officially launched later this year.
Alan Straton
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Thank you for sharing this particular story with me Alan. I’m going to make sure more Chinese investors know about Coega as long as I’m in China.
Thanks Ramon – I get a lot of correspondence from people privately acknowledging that Port Elizabeth is an awakening sleeping giant with most citing Coega and the development there as a major catalyst.
I fall back on ‘basic economics’ and count the ships in the bay waiting to enter our ports – and this happens daily with counts exceeding 10 at a time.