Company Announcement - Dr. David Masondo, who has served as acting CEO of the Automotive Industry Development Centre since April 2015, has been appointed CEO of the organisation. Masondo brings a wealth of government, managerial and automotive research experience to the AIDC. He was a lecturer at Wits University, held the position as MEC for Provincial Treasury in Limpopo, and as a Chief Director for the Department of Economic Development in Gauteng before joining the AIDC.
Masondo holds a Master of Arts (MA) Degree from Wits University. His MA focussed on the labour process in the automotive industry. He completed his Doctoral studies at the New York University in the United States of America. His PhD thesis investigated the effects of the Motor Industry Development Programme on the South African automotive industry. During his career, he scooped a number of accolades including the Ford Foundation International Fellowships PhD programme award, the MacCracken PhD scholarship and two (02) merit awards for his undergraduate studies. He was also named as one of “200 Young South Africans You Must Take to Lunch” as awarded by the Mail and Guardian Newspaper. Masondo plans to expand partnerships in both the public and private sectors of the automotive and manufacturing environments to ensure that the AIDC continues to deliver on its mandate.
The AIDC is currently working on a number of projects which Masondo has described as the keys to expediting economic growth within the automotive sector in Gauteng. “The AIDC is a government-owned company responsible for automotive related projects implementation for economic growth and development,” says Masondo. “My goal is to contribute in maintaining and attracting automotive investments in South Africa.” he adds.
Some of the projects currently in progress at the AIDC include:
• The Automotive Incubation Centre at Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa to nurture black-owned component suppliers into the vehicle manufacturer’s supply chain.
• The development of the Tshwane Auto City concept. The AIDC is working closely with key stakeholder, the City of Tshwane, which could establish Rosslyn as a new vehicle assembly capital and the biggest multi-OEM (original equipment manufacturer) development region in the world.
• Winterveld Enterprise Hub: Automotive - Informal Auto body repairers receive mentoring and training from Master Artisans located at the facility. It aims to develop Township enterprises.
• The establishment of a second BBBEE Incubation Centre at Nissan South Africa to develop BBBEE suppliers.
• The development of the Gauteng Automotive Learning Centre which will accommodate approximately 1000 learners annually, on a variety of training programmes, aimed at addressing both the current skills shortage and broadening their technical skills base.
• A Supplier and Enterprise Development Department to develop component manufacturers in the supply chain to conform to the international standards prescribed by the automotive manufacturing industry.
• The Automotive Supplier Park (ASP), to provide infrastructure, services and facilities for automotive components suppliers and other related industries.