Parliament, Tuesday, 21 April 2026 – The Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition has noted the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition’s (DTIC) focus on economic growth and job creation, following a briefing from the department on its 2026/27 annual performance plan.
The purpose of the meeting was to engage the department on its R11,7 billion budget allocation, its key performance indicators for the financial year and whether its plans will translate into real opportunities for South Africans. The committee’s engagement focused on job creation, transformation, manufacturing, beneficiation and trade within the African continent and other markets.
The department reported that the domestic economy is facing challenges from a range of external factors, such as global tariffs and non-tariff barriers to trade, the volatile global climate due to recent wars and conflicts, and the consequent disruption of supply chains; and internal challenges, including energy and water supply, and inefficient rail and port logistics.
To minimise or address the impact of these, the department has ramped up its initiatives and capacitated its entities to improve support to industry. In this regard, it is continuing its focus on Diversification, Decarbonisation and Digitalisation, as well as on economic transformation and job creation.
It also indicated that it is continuing engagements with industry to find sustainable solutions to challenges faced by companies in critical sectors, such as the steel, sugar and manufacturing sectors. Furthermore, the department continues to seek solutions for the recapitalisation of the National Empowerment Fund. In this regard, it noted a recent partnership between the Industrial Development Corporation and the National Empowerment Fund to ensure that sufficient funds are available to ensure financing of black-owned businesses.
On the film incentives, the committee had requested the department to engage the industry to address the challenges experienced with the programme due to budgetary constraints. It reported that the Deputy Minister, Mr Zuko Godlimpi, and the team has held several meetings with the film industry . As a result, it has been processing the valid claims submitted by industry, from a contingent liability of R984 million from April 2025 to R285 million on 31 March 2026. The current budget allocation for films is just over R522 million.
The committee welcomed this intervention and urged the DTIC and the film industry to co-create a long-term, sustainable solution to support the sector. The committee also raised concerns about the pace and impact of transformation initiatives, including the proposed Transformation Fund and a planned review of the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment regulatory framework.
While acknowledging the need to refine policy, the committee stressed that economic redress remains non-negotiable in addressing South Africa’s historical inequalities. A significant portion of the department’s budget will be channelled into incentive programmes and its entities.
The committee welcomed this approach but cautioned that delays in approvals and payments must be addressed. It indicated that it would intensify oversight of both the department and its entities to ensure that funds translate into measurable outcomes.
Committee Chairperson, Mr Mzwandile Masina, said the DTIC’s shift towards growth-focused interventions was encouraging but stressed that delivery would be key. “The committee welcomes the DTIC’s efforts to revise its strategy to focus on economic growth and job creation. We will continue to monitor its performance closely and assess the real impact of its work on the economy and the lives of our people,” said Mr Masina.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON TRADE, INDUSTRY AND COMPETITION, MR MZWANDILE MASINA.
For media enquiries, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Ms Faith Ndenze
Parliamentary Communication Services
Cell: 081 377 0686
Email: fndenze@parliament.gov.za
Arrange a tour