By: Natasha Archary

One of the biggest stories that made waves on social media over the weekend, after initially making the front page of the Business Times, is one that raises concerns over the future viability and investment of automobile manufacturer VW South Africa.
This after CEO of Volkswagen (VW) Passenger Cars, Thomas Schaefer raised concerns about the operating environment in the country.
Andile Dlamini, Head: Group Communications at Volkswagen Group South Africa joins Gugulethu Mfuphi on Kaya Biz to give clarity on the situation, offering a correction that VW is not leaving SA.
“To clarify the misinformation that has been making rounds on social media, Volkswagen is not going to be leaving South Africa.
We have been part of SA for over 72 years.
The story emanated from the interview Schaefer had with Reuters on Friday, 24 November, during which the CEO made comments particularly with regards to loadshedding and concerns of production in Gqeberha.”
Andile Dlamini, Head: Group Communications at Volkswagen Group South Africa
In his interview, Schaefer sent a firm message to President Cyril Ramaphosa to step up and solve the ongoing energy crisis that he says is going to force businesses to leave the country.
Schaefer’s comments were, “I’m very worried about it. We’re not in the business of charity,” and was according to Dlamini taken out of context.
He reaffirms that despite the ongoing energy crisis and logistical challenges jobs are not getting cut yet.
Dlamini shares that VW Group SA has been in a number of discussions with the government to address issues, and says that they are exempt from loadshedding unless it’s pushed up to Stage 4 and higher.
The German automobile manufacturing company has been in South Africa since 1946, and between 2008 to 2013, VW was the market leader in the SA passenger car industry.
Listen to the conversation on Kaya Biz:
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