FORD SA TO RETRENCH NEARLY 500 WORKERS

Ford South Africa has announced plans to cut close to 500 jobs at its Silverton (Pretoria) and Struandale (Gqeberha) plants.

The company cited a sharp drop in European demand for the Ranger bakkie, worsened by UK tax changes that have hit exports.

The retrenchments mark a major blow to South Africa’s auto sector, which is already under pressure from global economic headwinds.