Phuthaditjhaba Industrial Park is located within the Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality under the Maluti-A-Phofung Local Municipality. Owned and managed by the Free State Development Corporation (FDC), the park plays a key role in driving economic development in the Free State Province. It is also part of the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition (the dtic)’s Industrial Parks Revitalization Programme (IPRP). Established nearly 40 years ago, the park hosts a diverse range of tenants, including textile factories, plastic product manufacturers, construction and quarrying businesses, chemical processing firms, agro-processing companies, pulp and paper producers, and snack manufacturers. Spanning 250 hectares, it currently has a 60% occupancy rate with 230 tenant companies. The park is a major economic hub and home to one of the region’s largest employers in the Cut, Make, and Trim (CMT) textile sector, which employs over 500 people—more than 90% of whom are women. Small and micro enterprises (SMEs) typically occupy lots under 500 m² , while larger companies use spaces exceeding 500 m². Tenants benefit from shared infrastructure and services, including water and electricity supply, ICT services, and centralized security, enhancing efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Based on EIP prefeasibility studies for rooftop solar PV installation and a solar farm at Phuthaditjhaba Industrial Park, the Free State Development Corporation (Park Management Entity) has allocated funds to initiate rooftop solar PV installations at selected companies.
The Phuthaditjhaba Industrial Park is primarily managed by the Free State Development Corporation (FDC), a provincial agency responsible for driving economic development in the Free State province of South Africa. This model involves managing the park’s infrastructure, tenant relations, and overall operations with a focus on attracting new businesses and maximizing job creation within the area, often in collaboration with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) for revitalization initiatives.
Phuthaditjhaba Industrial Park’s baseline performance was 31% in 2020, rising to 43% in 2021 and 47% in 2022, with steady improvements in environmental, social, and economic performance through 2023. The park has strong potential for further growth in economic, social, and management performance heading into 2024- 2025.
Phuthaditjhaba Industrial Park secured funding from the provincial Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism, and Environmental Affairs (DESTEA) to upgrade three incubator buildings (Beehives). This initiative aims to support SMMEs, helping them grow into emerging enterprises and potential future park tenants, ultimately contributing to sustainable job creation.