EXECUTIVE MAYOR LOBISHE COMMENDS VOLKSWAGEN BUSINESS SUPPORT CENTRE ON 15 YEARS OF EMPOWERING ENTREPRENEURS
Published: May 29, 2026<< BACK TO NEWS
.jpg)
Executive Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, Cllr Babalwa Lobishe, today congratulated the Volkswagen Business Support Centre on its 15-year milestone, recognising its significant contribution to entrepreneurship development, job creation, supplier development and inclusive economic growth in Nelson Mandela Bay and beyond. The Executive Mayor delivered the message during the Centre’s 15th anniversary celebration held at the People’s Pavilion in Kariega.
Addressing representatives from government, organised labour, industry stakeholders, entrepreneurs and Volkswagen Group South Africa, Executive Mayor Lobishe described the achievement as a powerful example of how partnerships between business, government and communities can create meaningful economic opportunities and support South Africa’s development agenda.
"The Volkswagen Business Support Centre has spent the past fifteen years investing in the dreams, ambitions and potential of entrepreneurs. Through skills development, mentorship and enterprise support, the Centre has helped hundreds of businesses grow, create employment and contribute to the economic development of our region,” said Executive Mayor Lobishe.
The Executive Mayor noted that the Centre’s work directly supports national priorities around inclusive economic growth, industrialisation, localisation, employment and small business development. She further highlighted the Centre’s role in strengthening local supplier capabilities and enabling greater participation of emerging enterprises within South Africa’s automotive value chain.
"As Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, we recognise that sustainable economic growth requires strong partnerships between government and the private sector. Volkswagen Group South Africa continues to demonstrate responsible corporate citizenship through its commitment to enterprise and supplier development,” she added.
Executive Mayor Lobishe further acknowledged Kariega’s strategic role as one of South Africa’s leading automotive manufacturing hubs, noting that initiatives such as the Volkswagen Business Support Centre help ensure that the benefits of industrial development extend beyond factory operations and into local communities through entrepreneurship and business growth opportunities.
The mayor emphasised that the next phase of economic growth in Nelson Mandela Bay will require deeper collaboration between government, industry and communities, with increased focus on localisation, industrial innovation, supplier development and support for women, youth and black owned enterprises.
On behalf of the residents of Nelson Mandela Bay, Executive Mayor Lobishe congratulated the Volkswagen Business Support Centre, its leadership, mentors, partners and entrepreneurs on this significant achievement and wished the programme continued success in empowering future generations of business leaders.
Top stories
Public warned not to eat wild shellfish from Saldanha Bay May 29, 2026
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has warned the public not to collect or eat any wild shellfish from Saldanha Bay and nearby coastal areas until further notice.
ELECTRICITY RESTORATION GAINS MOMENTUM AS FLOOD RECOVERY EFFORTS ADVANCE May 28, 2026
Following the rapid response and War Room intervention initiated by the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Executive Mayor, Councillor Babalwa Lobishe, on Tuesday, 26 May 2026, significant progress is being made in restoring electricity supply across th...