Provided that strict health and safety conditions adhere to, automotive production can take place under level four lockdown restrictions. The Premier and accompanying parties were welcomed by Tim Abbott, CEO, BMW Group South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa and Johan Mouton, Director, BMW Group Plant Rosslyn. The Premier was joined by Dr Bandile Masuku, MEC for Health, Ms Morakane Mosupyoe, MEC for Economic Development, Agriculture and Rural Development and Ms Lebogang Mahaye, City of Tshwane Administrator: Compliance and Law Enforcement to inspect the assembly line and the screening and isolations procedures established at the gate to the plant.
All of BMW Group South Africa’s associates and staff have undergo compulsory training regarding social distancing and safety precautions in place during the national lockdown. Furthermore, the supply of four masks a day and mandatory daily screening has been implemented to ensure the health and safety of associates and staff which is the primary concern for BMW SA. With all these measures in place, production at the Rosslyn plant has commenced with careful coordination with the BMW Group production network to assist in satisfying global demand. The first completed vehicles have since reached the port of Durban for export.
“I am pleased to see that at BMW not only are they continuing to build a high-quality product, but they are also doing so in a responsible manner. They have taken big steps to look after workers’ health and safety during this time, and we applaud them for it,” David Makhura, Gauteng Premier.
“We’ve been working hard to make sure Plant Rosslyn is ready for a safe return to production. We welcome the Premier’s visit. I’m pleased we’re able to show that we can build cars here in a safe and compliant way. It’s exciting to see X3s rolling off our line again for customers around the world. It just goes to show that with togetherness and resilience we will get through this difficult time. Our operation here is a joint project. Our success here is thanks to many people, not least our employees and their families. But I want to thank our suppliers and the government for coming together at this time of crisis to work for solutions. That is why we are able to build cars at Rosslyn again today,” Tim Abbott, CEO, BMW Group South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa.
BMW Group South Africa has also made contributions to the fight against the spread of COVID-19 as marginalised and poor communities will benefit from the 17 BMWs loaned to the South African Red Cross Society which will use the vehicles to reach these communities. The BMW X3 vehicles will be used during operations to perform contact tracing, screening, deliver hot meals and food parcels and the dissemination of information in six local languages, as well as the provision of psycho-social support to volunteers and emergency personnel.
