Lerato Mailoane
To improve innovation in the automotive industry, BMW South Africa has invested a one-billion-rand at its supplier park in Rosslyn, Pretoria, which is set to be operational in 2023.
The park will provide specialised painting and manufacture components for certain BMW vehicles.
Gauteng Premier David Makhura and Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi visited the plant on Thursday, 22 September 2022. 
Key to the conversations was the group's investments in the province and sustainability as the automotive industry transitions towards electrification and a carbon-neutral future.
The Pretoria visit follows the premier's trade and investment mission to the BMW headquarters in Munich, Germany, earlier this month.  
Makhura said he was inspired during his recent trip to Germany, where they discussed opportunities to accelerate partnerships in building on shared ambitions in the automotive sector and the Green Hydrogen Economy.
"Innovation was a key focus of trade mission to Germany. We engaged with BMW at their headquarters in Munich. We have been having meetings on the transition into a new economy, smart industries dependent on our skills capabilities anchored around the high growth sectors in our province."
The BMW Rosslyn plant currently employs 2 500 people directly, and each direct job is responsible for a further five positions in the parts supply chain. BMW in South Africa has made over R12,5 billion in direct investments.
Furthermore, BMW South Africa continues to collaborate with the Gauteng government on various projects in education and healthcare. This includes an R76 million investment in eight healthcare facilities in Gauteng together with the German Federal Government, the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ), and the Gauteng Department of Health.
The Premier and MEC visited the Soshanguve Engineering School of Specialisation (SoS) with an automotive focus, which is another collaboration between the Gauteng Provincial Government and BMW.
Learners at the school have designed and built a one-of-a-kind solar-powered train locomotive.
Fondly named Modjadji, after the Rain Queen of the people of Limpopo, it is blue and white, with mirrors, wipers, carpets and enough space inside for two passengers. It currently runs at 30 kilometres per hour. 
"These young people come from our townships and are very brainy. They want to solve every problem, from an energy problem at Eskom to a mobility problem at the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa.
"They demonstrated that smart mobility means e-mobility, but it also means green mobility. This solar train solves multiple problems. They are solving a transport problem, but at the same time, they are also solving a climate change problem," said Makhura.
Lesufi said the department already had 21 schools of specialisation, and they were targeting 35.
"I am excited by these young ones. They have proved a point that give an African child an opportunity, and they will show you flames. I am proud of them and the school's leadership," added Lesufi.