ACTOM last week officially opened its Pretoria Power Transformers manufacturing facility. This follows the group’s strategic acquisition of SGB Smit Power Matla when that company was struggling to emerge from a business rescue process and overcome concurrent challenges. The acquisition, which represents a major investment by ACTOM, was structured as an asset transaction including the SSPM facilities and the transfer of staff.
Andries Mthethwa Chairman of ACTOM, Dr Nasiphi Moya, Executive Mayor of Tshwane, Mervyn Naidoo, ACTOM Group CEO, at the reopening of the SSPM facility.
The official opening – or reopening of the refurbished Pretoria factory – marked a significant step for South Africa’s industrial capability and was attended by representatives from across the spectrum of key stakeholders: the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC), the City of Tshwane, including the Mayor of Tshwane, the Tshwane Economic Development Agency, Gauteng Growth Development Agency, Ministry of Electricity & Energy, Association of Municipal Electricity Utilities (AMEU), South Africa’s Independent Power Producers Office, The Manufacturing Circle, SEIFSA and industry partners. At a factory tour on 3 December 2025, showcasing the facility’s renewed operations, ACTOM reaffirmed its commitment to local manufacturing, support for renewable energy, and job creation.
With the acquisition of SGB Smit Power Matla, ACTOM has expanded its manufacturing capacity and technical capability in the transformer market. It is thus positioned to strengthen sub-Saharan transformer production at a time when South Africa faces rising demand for transformers to support planned grid extensions and modernisation, renewable energy projects, and embedded generation initiatives. The acquisition further ensures that critical transformers, with their specialised technologies, can continue to be produced locally, reducing reliance on imports and improving supply stability for public and private sector clients.
The newly refurbished Pretoria Power Transformers facility provides extensive manufacturing capacity with 40 000 m2 under roof.
The expanded capability means ACTOM can deliver larger power transformers, including class 3 units up to 500 MVA 500 kV, and heavy-duty transformers, over and above the transformers it already produces; it can also improve lead times, and increase local content across its product range. The transaction will allow for transferring specialised skills, deepening engineering expertise, and expanding relationships with local component suppliers. As a result, the reopened facility will support national energy resilience and provide competitive, locally manufactured alternatives in a market dominated by imported equipment on the larger classes of transformers.
The reopening of the factory – following refurbishments undertaken after fire damaged a section of the facility two years ago and the ensuing business rescue process – saw around 250 employees return to work, in both the Pretoria and Cape Town facilities. Hence, the reopening offers renewed hope to individuals, families and communities and reflects ACTOM’s commitment to revitalising local production and supporting sustainable economic growth.
It also supports industrial skills development, local content initiatives, and the broader South African energy and industrial sectors, including renewable energy projects. It underlines the critical role of domestic manufacturing in maintaining competitiveness in a market increasingly challenged by imports.
Speaking at the event, Dr Nasiphi Moya, Executive Mayor of the City of Tshwane, said: “Pretoria West can be revived as the manufacturing hub in Tshwane. That is our vision for the years to come, to make this strategic area work as a zone for rebuilding our manufacturing sector. The launch of ACTOM’s power transformer factory, in Pretoria West, gives us hope that the industry sees this area as an investment opportunity.”
Mervyn Naidoo, Group CEO of ACTOM, highlighted the strategic importance of the facility.
"This reopening is a testament to ACTOM’s commitment to South African industry, local job creation, and skills development. By investing in local manufacturing capabilities, we are strengthening our competitiveness, supporting communities, and contributing to sustainable economic growth. Our transformers and electromechanical solutions are critical to both conventional and renewable energy infrastructure, demonstrating that South Africa can produce world-class solutions locally."
For more information visit: www.actom.co.za
