South African Breweries to invest R650m in KwaZulu-Natal

The South African Breweries (SAB) pledged to invest R920m into the national economy, of which R650m will be channelled into an expansion of SAB’s Prospecton Brewery in KwaZulu-Natal. Photo: Leon Nicholas.

The South African Breweries (SAB) pledged to invest R920m into the national economy, of which R650m will be channelled into an expansion of SAB’s Prospecton Brewery in KwaZulu-Natal. Photo: Leon Nicholas.

Published Apr 7, 2022

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Durban - South African Breweries (SAB) pledged to invest R920m into the national economy, of which R650m will be channelled into an expansion of SAB’s Prospecton Brewery in KwaZulu-Natal.

In a statement issued this week, the company's public relations officer Aphiwe Faku said that the Prospecton Brewery expansion would include a new Flavoured Alcohol Beverage Blending Plant, which will bring with it direct full-time employment for 56 people with new skills development drives aimed at upskilling workers on new processes.

“As a brewery that was hit hard by 2021’s July unrest, SAB believes in the enormous potential this operation can play for the business and for the province,” said Peter Thembane, regional corporate affairs manager.

The South African Breweries (SAB) pledged to invest R920m into the national economy, of which R650m will be channelled into an expansion of SAB’s Prospecton Brewery in KwaZulu-Natal.

Thembane stated that the SAB took advantage to reaffirm its commitment to reignite the national economy at the 2022 South African Investment Conference.

“Our commitment to this country of our birth has never been in question,” said Thembane.

“We are excited by the opportunities that lie before us as we invest in the potential and capability of our operations. Prospecton brewery has always been a bastion of our business, and we are proud to honour it with this investment,” he said.

The company mentioned that the investment would bolster the brewery’s efforts to incorporate more returnable packaging with more optimised production, innovation, maintenance, IT, and quality.

“We anticipate this expansion to further increase demand for raw materials, labour, utilities, and equipment within the brewery, thus stimulating economic activity in our country and in the province,” Thembane stated.

He further said that the SAB had a major socio-economic footprint with one comprehensive brewery (Prospecton) and nine depots scattered across KwaZulu-Natal.

“In this province alone, SAB employs over 300 full-time permanent workers and 57 owner-drivers operating with a collective crew of 151 employees. With around 4 860 retailers and 400 suppliers across the province,” he said.

Thembane believed SAB’s direct economic impact on the province was exponential.

The South African Breweries (SAB) pledged to invest R920m into the national economy, of which R650m will be channelled into an expansion of SAB’s Prospecton Brewery in KwaZulu-Natal.

Among other programmes, the SAB currently has invested over R20m into socio-economic development initiatives in the province every year.

The company stated that, along with a further R270m to be invested into SAB’s Ibhayi Brewery in the Eastern Cape, this ramped up SAB’s total South African investment commitment to R4.5bn – adding impact to an industry that already contributes 1.3% of the national GDP.

“These investments will give us the capacity to not only contribute to the economy but also be able to contribute to tax, excise and procurement spend. From province to province, we are committed to playing a pivotal role in working with the government and social partners to continue helping South Africa grow,” explained Thembane.

The SAB Corporate Brand Director, Sphe Vundla, told the Daily News that the company would launch the ‘Alcohol Evidence Centre’ in Dube, Soweto.

“We have seen a 44% reduction in alcohol-related incidents in Pietermaritzburg, and we are encouraged by these developments because the safety of our customers comes first.

“The campaign is aimed at encouraging people to drink responsibly and reduce drunk driving incidents in the country. Together with the Department of Transport, Metro Police, and Road Traffic Management Cooperation, we have assisted to spread the message of ensuring safe drinking and not drinking under the influence,” Vundla said.

Daily News

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