Vanderbijlpark alone has lost 10,000 jobs since 1990. The latest closures will directly eliminate 4,000 jobs, with thousands more at risk in the manufacturing and construction industries. Closure
, despite receiving 3.4 billion (194.6 million USD. For the past 18 months, including Corporation Loans (IDC), payroll support, and special electricity tariffs, AMSA has been shutting down factories.
. 1.68 billion (96.16 million USD. USA) in March 2025
Unemployment Insurance Fund/Temporary employee assistance scheme. AMSA is accused of "corporate robbery", claiming that the subsidies are used by executives and foreign shareholders instead of saving jobs. AMSA CEO Kobus Verster, who reportedly earned more than $20 million ($1.14 million) per year, has been criticized for prioritizing profits.
National and industrial impacts
. The closures threaten to erase the last integrated carbon steel capacity in South Africa. The closure of Newcastle could put 60,000-80,000 jobs at risk. Trading pressure South Africa is also facing global steel overcapacity, an outflow from China, and Trump's 50 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum that have redirected supplies to weaker markets. SAFTU criticized Ramaphosa's government for not building BRICS(Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates)-a comprehensive defense strategy. . Declared the closure a national emergency and demands:
- The AMSA Corporation is jointly owned by an employee of the state.
- Export taxes and tax taxes and enforcement mandates to combat Chrome, Iron Ore and other minerals.
- Planing the Tariff.
- National Reindustrialization Plan, led by public investment
