COCA-COLA REPLACING IT'S WORKERS WITH A ROBOT THEY BOUGHT FOR 365 MILLION

COCA-COLA REPLACING IT'S WORKERS WITH A ROBOT THEY BOUGHT FOR 365 MILLION 

Coca-Cola has been a big part of South Africa for many years. We all know the red cans, the cold bottles, and the Christmas trucks that make people smile. But lately, the company is going through some serious changes — and not all of them are good news.

Recently, Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa (CCBSA) announced plans to cut between 600 and 680 jobs across the country. The company says business costs have gone up, people’s buying habits have changed, and it has become harder to make profits. This means they might also close some factories, including ones in Bloemfontein and East London.

This news has made many workers and unions very upset. People are worried about losing their jobs and what this will mean for their families and communities. In small towns, a factory doesn’t just employ workers — it helps support shops, transport services, and many local businesses.

But it’s not all bad news. At the same time, Coca-Cola is investing in new technology and modern factories. The company recently opened a new R365 million high-speed bottling line in Midrand, Gauteng. This new machine can fill more than 70,000 bottles every hour and is part of Coca-Cola’s plan to make its South African operations faster and more efficient.

Another big change is happening behind the scenes. Coca-Cola is selling a large part of its African bottling business to a Swiss company called Coca-Cola HBC AG. This deal is worth about US$2.6 billion and will give HBC control of 75% of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa. The global Coca-Cola company says it wants to focus more on brand development and let local partners handle the bottling side.

So, what does all this mean for South Africa?

It means Coca-Cola is changing its strategy. It wants to stay in the country, but in a different way. Some people will sadly lose their jobs, but there’s also investment coming in and new opportunities for the future. The company is trying to balance saving costs with keeping its strong presence in Africa.

For now, South Africans will still find Coca-Cola on store shelves — but the people and places behind that bottle might soon look a little different.