Pray the News
Negotiations taking place for rescue deal over Goodyear Plant
The Herald – Monday 13 October
Abstract
The national government says a rescue deal for the closed Goodyear plant is nearing completion, with negotiations at an advanced stage to revive operations and restore the jobs put on hold in Kariega. Speaking during a post G20 trade and investment ministers meeting in Gqeberha on Friday, trade, industry & competition (DTIC) deputy minister Zuko Godlimpi said without going into much detail, he was convinced a positive announcement would be made soon. In August, the Goodyear plant in Kariega permanently shut its doors, leading to 907 job losses at the plant. The closure, which caught many by surprise when the announcement was made in June, ended 78 years of production. “The matter is being attended to,” Godlimpi said. “The work that the DTIC and Numsa (National Union of Metalworkers of SA) are doing is progressing very nicely and we are convinced that that facility will be in operation sooner rather than later. “So I will leave it at that.” Godlimpi added he was confident the jobs lost by the Goodyear shutdown would be revived soon. “I won’t tell you who’s doing what, where and how, but I’m very [sure] that the jobs that have now been put on ice because people got severance packages, will very soon be coming back online,” he said. During a plenary session in the National Assembly last month, Godlimpi told the house that government was looking for a technical partner to help it acquire the plant. “In parliament I made the statement that we were negotiating with a potential partner that could replace the previous company, so that work is under way,” he said. “But again, I can’t give you a date on that, because it’ sa negotiation. “If someone is buying someone else’s facility, the terms of what that looks like cannot just be arbitrarily determined, but something is coming. “Gqeberha will not be a ghost town.”
More Background
South African government officials have indicated that a rescue deal for the shuttered Goodyear tyre manufacturing plant in Kariega is close to finalization. Negotiations, led by the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition (DTIC) in partnership with the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA), are at an advanced stage to revive operations at the facility, which permanently closed in August 2025 after 78 years, leading to 907 job losses. Deputy Minister Zuko Godlimpi expressed optimism during a post-G20 meeting in Gqeberha on October 10, 2025, stating that a positive announcement is imminent and that the lost jobs, currently "on ice" due to severance packages, will soon be reinstated. He emphasized the search for a technical partner to acquire the plant, assuring that terms must be commercially viable and that the region will not become a "ghost town." No specific details on the partner or timeline were disclosed to avoid jeopardizing the talks.
Prayer Guidelines:
1. Successful Negotiations
Heavenly Father, we come before You seeking Your divine wisdom and favor in the negotiations for the revival of the Goodyear plant in Kariega. As Proverbs 16:7 reminds us, "When the ways of people please the Lord, he causes even their enemies to be at peace with them." Guide the hearts of all involved parties—the DTIC, NUMSA, and potential partners—to align with Your will, fostering understanding and swift agreement, so that terms are reached harmoniously and operations resume without delay. In Jesus' name, Amen.
2. Sustainable Solutions
Father, we pray for a lasting and resilient solution to restore the Goodyear facility, ensuring it thrives for generations. Draw from the wisdom in Proverbs 21:5: "The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty." Inspire the negotiators to craft strategies rooted in diligence and foresight, building a foundation that withstands economic challenges and secures the future of the community. May Your provision turn potential desolation into enduring prosperity. In Jesus' name, Amen.
3. Wise Economic Decisions
Father, grant discernment to those making economic choices in this rescue deal, that every aspect may align with sound principles and true value. As Deuteronomy 8:18 teaches, "But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant." Empower decision-makers to prioritize long-term viability over short-term gains, ensuring the solution makes fiscal sense, creates jobs, and bolsters South Africa's tyre industry without waste or folly. In Jesus' name, Amen.
4. Agreements Free from Prejudice and Corruption
Righteous Judge, we beseech You to oversee the agreements being formed, purging them of any bias, favoritism, or dishonest dealings. Echoing Deuteronomy 16:19, "Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the innocent." Protect the process from corruption, ensuring fairness for all stakeholders, including workers and the Eastern Cape region, so that justice prevails and the outcome honors Your holy standards. In Jesus' name, Amen. Prayer Request
5. That Kariega Won't Become a Ghost Town
Merciful Lord, we lift up Kariega and its people, praying against decline and for vibrant restoration. As Isaiah 54:3 promises, "For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities." Reverse any threats of abandonment, filling the area with renewed industry, employment, and hope through this plant's revival. Let Gqeberha and the surrounding communities flourish, not fade, under Your watchful care and blessing. In Jesus' name, Amen.
A Prayer
Heavenly Father, we humbly approach Your throne, seeking Your guidance and blessing for the revival of the Goodyear plant in Kariega. As Proverbs 16:7 assures us, "When the ways of people please the Lord, he causes even their enemies to be at peace with them," we pray You lead the DTIC, NUMSA, and all negotiators with divine wisdom, fostering unity and swift, harmonious agreements to restore operations. Grant a sustainable solution, rooted in the diligence of Proverbs 21:5, "The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance," ensuring long-term economic stability and prosperity for the community. Bestow discernment, as Deuteronomy 8:18 reminds us that You give "the ability to produce wealth," so decisions prioritize viability and job creation without waste. Guard the process against prejudice and corruption, upholding Deuteronomy 16:19’s call: "Do not pervert justice or show partiality," ensuring fairness and integrity in all agreements. Finally, protect Kariega from decline, fulfilling Isaiah 54:3’s promise: "You will spread out to the right and to the left," bringing renewed industry, employment, and hope to Gqeberha, preventing it from becoming a ghost town. We trust in Your sovereign provision. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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Today's Prayer Pocket Guide
Proverbs 16:7
Proverbs 21:5
Deuteronomy 8:18
Deuteronomy 16:19
Isaiah 54:3
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