Abstract

This article focuses on Saldanha’s readiness to host the Saldanha Bay Industrial Zone (SBIDZ). On a global scale, industrial zones (IDZs) are continuously invested in the clustering of firms and the establishment of greater localized and international suppliers. This, in turn, benefited both the domestic suppliers and zoning firms resulting in external economies of scale that reduce a firm’s variable production costs per unit, enhancing collaborations and effectiveness. Although these factors create an environment conducive to economic growth and capital accumulation, the same cannot apply to enhancing occupational capabilities and overall human capital development in developing countries’ IDZs. This research delves into the contextual factors that uncover the effectiveness of the SBIDZ in creating a platform for the development of synergies between various private and public enterprises, within and outside the zoning areas. The capturing of primary data from various segments of the local town was collected, codified, and analyzed through semi-structured questionnaires. The objective of this research is to discover Saldanha’s occupational activities and readiness of formal institutions (private and public) against the backcloth of the SBIDZ. A mixed-method case study approach is followed. The merging of qualitative and quantitative research methods gives in this case a deep understanding of the real-world problem under investigation. This article strengthens the gap that currently exists between SBIDZ’s real economic and social performances. In the assessment of the fundamental objective, this study will principally examine the following research question: Was Saldanha prepared to host the SBIDZ?