South Africa’s Select Committee on Economic Development and Trade has called for the urgent conversion of investment pledges into jobs and exports at the Coega Special Economic Zone (SEZ).

The Coega Special Economic Zone, located near Gqeberha, is South Africa’s largest industrial hub designed to attract local and global investment.

During an oversight visit to the Gqeberha area this week, committee chairperson Sonja Boshoff said projects such as the green hydrogen and ammonia initiative must move from planning into implementation.

“We cannot have a situation where such infrastructure projects are perpetually kept in plans and reports. We want urgent implementation,” she said.

Coega is the country’s largest SEZ and has received R4.2 billion ($240 million) in public funding, attracting R12.5 billion ($715 million) in private investment. Yet, lawmakers want to see clear timelines and measurable results.

Boshoff emphasized the need for real job creation, factory operations, and export growth. “The time has now come to see operational results, with real jobs, local procurement opportunities and improved export performance,” she said.

The committee also raised concerns over delays in the Coega Pharmaceutical and Vaccine Manufacturing Precinct, urging clarity on investor readiness and job creation projections.

The visit comes amid rising unemployment in the Eastern Cape, exceeding 40%, and recent retrenchments in the automotive sector.

Boshoff said Coega must play a central role in driving industrial diversification and economic resilience.

Committee members also met with provincial agencies to assess how local initiatives can better integrate township and rural economies into SEZ value chains.

They further called for a national response to global trade shifts, including potential export tariffs by the United States.

“Coega is a test case for South Africa’s ability to compete globally,” Boshoff said. “What we expect now is delivery in jobs, exports and industrial capacity.”