President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Friday, 9 October 2026, officiate the launch of the Free State Catalytic Investment and Industrialization Project in Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality.
The ceremony will take place at the Phuthaditjhaba Multipurpose Centre, Free State Province.
The high-level ceremony will be hosted by the Premier of the Free State Province, MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae, Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality and the Chinese investors Joy Long-YJC.
The project will mobilise automotive assembly, electric-mobility technologies, components, energy systems, logistics, skills and local suppliers.
The project represents an investment of approximately R100-billion and is expected to contribute to manufacturing, industrialisation, green economy development and the energy transition, while creating approximately 6,500 permanent jobs.
The event will bring together national, provincial and local government, investors, development-finance institutions, infrastructure provider: businesses, training institutions and delegations from all 35 wards of Maluti-a-Phofung.
Details of the launch are as follows:
Date: Friday, 09 October 2026
Time: 09h00
Venue: Phuthaditjhaba Multipurpose Centre, Free State Province
Media Accreditation enquiries:
Free State Premier’s Office: Ms Pulane Tsupane on +27 71 302 2595
GCIS: Ms Mpho Phatudi on +27 79 605 2659
Media enquiries:
Free State Premier’s Office
Head of Provincial Government Communication Services: Ms Matshidiso Setai on +27 83 795 6498
Premier Spokesperson: Ms Mpho Sikisi on +27 83 449 9463
Presidency
Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President - media@presidency.gov.za
