About us.
The Localisation Support Fund (LSF) is South Africa's apex body for driving localisation across the manufacturing sector — working at the intersection of government and industry to identify where competitive local manufacturing can be unlocked, and ensuring the conditions are in place for that to happen.
Established in 2021 as a partnership between the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) and Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa, our work is delivered through three integrated capabilities: Research, Capacity Building, and Industrial Facilitation.
The fund has been created to unlock localisation in the manufacturing sector in South Africa by funding industry research and deploying technical resources and expertise — bridging the gap between localisation opportunity and execution.
How We Deliver
The LSF works with a range of partners — manufacturers, state-owned enterprises, private sector companies, industry associations, and government — to unlock localisation across South Africa's manufacturing sector. Engagements can be initiated by us or by you. What matters is not where the conversation starts, but what it can achieve. We work through three integrated capabilities
01
Research
We commission and project-manage rigorous research into South Africa's localisation opportunities — asking the hard questions about where competitive local manufacturing is viable, and how it can be realised. What sets our research apart is the process around it: we convene public and private sector stakeholders to build on prior work, shape the right research questions, and ensure findings are translated into actionable outcomes through roundtables, workshops, policy submissions, and direct engagement with government and industry decision-makers.
02
Capacity Building
We embed the right skills where they are currently missing. This means deploying specialist technical resources — process engineers, industrial engineers, and others — directly into manufacturers to help them scale production competitively. It also means working with state-owned enterprises and private sector buyers to strengthen their procurement functions, enabling them to engage more strategically with local suppliers. Whether on the supply or demand side, our focus is on building the capability that makes localisation stick.
03
Industrial Facilitation
We support creating the conditions for localisation to happen. By convening the right stakeholders — manufacturers, buyers, financiers, and government — we facilitate the structured conversations and engagements that allow formal supply and investment relationships to form. Where gaps exist in a value chain, we work with industry partners to identify them and bring the relevant parties together to fill them.
We don't require co-funding.
What we do need is energy, intent, and the willingness to needle. Localisation requires commitment — from us and from you.
Latest Resources
Developing the Sorghum Biofuel Value Chain in South Africa
The Localisation Support Fund has commissioned a comprehensive research programme assessing the viability of establishing a domestic sorghum-based bioethanol industry in South Africa. Prepared by Blueprint Holdings (Pty) Ltd, the study draws on detailed financial modelling across six feedstock and technology configurations, value chain analysis, international benchmarking, and an integrated scenario model. The findings confirm that grain sorghum bioethanol represents one of the most compelling localisation opportunities available to South Africa's agricultural and energy sectors — strategically credible, technically proven, and closer to commercial viability than is commonly assumed.
Leon Naidoo Appointed as Head of Operations
Leon brings a wealth of experience in leading complex operations and supply chain transformation across multiple sectors. His appointment marks an important step as we continue building the Localisation Support Fund’s capability to deliver high-impact projects that unlock industrial growth and create opportunities in South Africa.
What is the Localisation Support Fund? ✔ A South African Manufacturing Localisation Catalyst ✔ Funding Expertise and Resources to unlock localisation opportunities Accelerate implementation and delivery Close Organisational Gaps with roadmap to Knowledge and Technology transfer Strengthen teams through the initial funding of specialist roles Aid in delivering investment ready businesses Activation of larger quantum's of capital ✔ Orchestrate connections between stakeholders and resources ✔ Augment existing localisation projects and programs ✔ Partner with complementary institutions ✔ Project Manage our scope to ensure delivery, mitigate risk and measure impact
We are not a financial provider. An Investor or Fund Manager The primary or sole funder of a localisation project unless the only requirement relates to the LSF scope A Working Capital or Debt Provider A supply chain database or RFQ platform A grant facility without active oversight and participation