President Cyril Ramaphosa
Namakwa District
In a major vote of confidence in South Africa’s economy, President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Friday, 16 October 2026, inaugurate Vedanta Zinc International’s Gamsberg Phase II Expansion in Aggeneys, Northern Cape.
Themed “Partnerships for Progress,” the inauguration marks one of the largest mining investments in South Africa in the past decade and signals a new chapter of inclusive growth for the Namakwa District.
The ambitious Phase II expansion will more than double output, increasing Gamsberg’s annual zinc-in-concentrate capacity to approximately 500 000 tonnes per annum, positioning the mine as one of the world’s largest zinc-producing operations.
More than just tonnes, the project is about people and progress. The expansion will sustain between 800 and 1 000 permanent jobs during operations, with recruitment focused predominantly on communities in the Northern Cape. It further cements Vedanta’s long-term commitment to local employment, skills development, and community upliftment in the Khâi-Ma Local Municipality.
