It’s final! ArcelorMittal long steel division closures

The long steel part of the iconic steel company that industrialised the country and turned it into Africa’s mightiest economy is to shut down – with 3 500 immediate job losses and a major negative ripple effect expected throughout the steel industry.

The company announced the final closure decision of the Vereeniging and Newcastle long steel plants of ArcelorMittal SA last Friday after several delays in implementation pending possible SA Government intervention.

But Government failed to rescue the embattled company – which was and still is besieged by cheap Chinese steel imports, on which the Government has failed to impose punitive import tariffs.

Steel imports increased 9.4% to 1.4 million tons in 2024 and are expected to increase dramatically in 2025 unless action is taken by Government.

Government’s inaction has been blamed squarely on its steel policy confusion by experts and commentators.

“Regrettably, despite our best efforts, the parties involved have not been able to find timely solutions required to defer the wind-down of the Longs Business. Progress on key priorities has been limited,” the Company said in a statement issued on Friday.

Lack of a Government plan to rescue the plants and jobs has been met with outrage by organised business in Emfuleni and the Vaal, saying it lacked commitment to job creation and security.

“This is what we expected and still shows the lack of interest from the Government to assist large industries in SA, and their lack of commitment to job security and creation,” said the GTCoC.

By Craig Kotze and originally appeared i the Vaalweekblad