Coca-Cola SA to Cut 680 Jobs Amid Plant Closures
Coca-Cola SA workers faces possible job cut. (Coca-Cola web/via google)
by Kelebogile Matlou
Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa has announced plans to cut over 680 jobs as part of a company-wide reorganization aimed at improving efficiency and responding to market pressures. The move includes the closure of plants in Bloemfontein and East London and will primarily affect administrative, distribution, and support roles at bottling plants and regional offices.
According to documents obtained by SABC News, Coca-Cola SA has pledged to provide affected employees with generous separation packages and outplacement assistance to help ease the transition. The company cited financial constraints and the need to secure long-term viability as the driving forces behind the restructuring.
The announcement, has sparked immediate backlash from labor unions. Edwin Mabowa, Deputy General-Secretary of the Food and Allied Workers Union (FAWU), accused Coca-Cola of bypassing formal union consultations by informing employees directly before negotiations with the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation, and Arbitration (CCMA) had officially begun.
“The corporation served us with a notice and an application to the CCMA, which begins on September 19th. However, they are already informing workers that the first and second stages are complete,” Mabowa said.
The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) also condemned the move, describing the layoffs as devastating for an economy already grappling with an unemployment rate exceeding 32%.
Coca-Cola SA’s operations in Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town have traditionally employed thousands of workers. Rising operating costs, changing consumer habits, and market pressures, however, have prompted the company to reduce its footprint.
The CCMA is scheduled to hear the matter starting September 19, 2025, where unions and management are expected to engage in negotiations aimed at mitigating the impact of the retrenchments.
As the company moves forward with its restructuring, the focus will be on balancing operational efficiency with responsible handling of workforce reductions. Both unions and community stakeholders will be closely monitoring the process to ensure that employees are adequately supported during the transition.
