KUGOMPO CITY- The Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality(BCMM) Executive Mayor Cllr. Princess Faku met with management from Mercedes-Benz South Africa on Friday to reaffirm the longstanding partnership between the automotive giant and the municipality.
Mayor Faku was accompanied by City Manager Mxolisi Yawa during the visit to the company’s plant in KuGompo City(formerly known as East London).
The delegation also included Mayoral Committee Members Yomelela Tyali and Mninawa Nyusile, Buffalo City Metropolitan Development Agency (BCMDA) CEO Ayanda Gqoboka, Head of Department Noludwe Ncokazi and other senior officials from the municipality.
The meeting served as an opportunity to reflect on decades of collaboration between the municipality and Mercedes-Benz South Africa, a partnership that has played a pivotal role in shaping the local economy.
For many years, the automotive manufacturer has been one of the largest investors in the Buffalo City region.
Its presence has helped position the city as a significant contributor to South Africa’s automotive manufacturing sector, while creating thousands of employment opportunities for local residents.
Furthmore beyond its production and export operations, Mercedes-Benz South Africa has also worked closely with the municipality on initiatives aimed at supporting economic growth and community development.
Mayor Faku highlighted the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors in driving sustainable development.
She noted that meaningful progress is rarely achieved by a single institution, but rather through partnerships where government, business and communities work together toward shared goals.
“The relationship between the municipality and Mercedes-Benz South Africa is a reflection of what can be achieved when institutions collaborate for the benefit of the community,” she said.
Through continued cooperation, both the municipality and the company hope to further strengthen economic development, innovation and opportunities for the people of Buffalo City.
Photographs: Supplied
