Vedanta Zinc International, the Northern Cape Provincial Government and the Industrial Zones Programme of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition have signed a commitment to advance the Namakwa Special Economic Zone during a ceremony held on the sidelines of the Investing in African Mining Indaba in Cape Town.

The Namakwa SEZ, designated in May 2024, is aimed at driving industrialisation and mineral beneficiation in the Namakwa District and positioning the Northern Cape as a key manufacturing hub. 

The mining company says Gamsberg operations have been identified as a potential anchor investor, with plans to establish a zinc smelter that would create South Africa’s first fully integrated zinc mining and manufacturing facility.

The development is expected to generate approximately six thousand direct and indirect jobs, including around two thousand permanent positions over five years.