The Department of Trade and Industry says the expansion project to build Africa’s first end-to-end multi-vaccine manufacturing site at the South African vaccine manufacturer Biovac’s plant in Cape Town, can play a major role in growing the economy. The expansion was announced after Biovac secured a financing package of around R1.8bn from various international stakeholders, last month.
This will advance self-reliance in vaccine production for South Africa and the African continent after huge gaps were identified during the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent race to produce and distribute vaccines globally.
A ceremonial soil-turning ceromy was held for Biovac’s future greenfield manufacturing facility currently being built in Cape Town, which represents a significant step forward in expanding local vaccine manufacturing capability and strengthening pharmaceutical production in Africa after huge gaps in vaccine manufacturing on the continent were identified during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Biovac currently manufactures and supplies much-needed routine paediatric vaccines and has delivered more than 450 million vaccine doses to countries across Southern Africa, since 2003 including COVID-19 vaccines.
“The aim is to make sure the continent moves from less than one percent of vaccines being manufactured to get to at least ten percent in the next ten years, but ultimately the continent is aiming for 60-percent of vaccines to be manufactured. BIOVAC is looking to contribute to that cabability. So, for example, Biovac can produce 15 million vials. With the new capacity, we are looking to triple that to 50 million. That is the kind of contribution we are aiming to do,” says BIOVAC CEO, Dr Morena Makhoana.
WATCH | Biovac, with support from the European Investment Bank and the International Finance Corporation, is set to build Africa’s first multi-vaccine plant — the continent’s largest. pic.twitter.com/68Yo4hdbsd
— SABC News (@SABCNews) April 17, 2026
The Department of Trade and Industry says the expansion of the Biovac end-to-end vaccine manufacturing facility sends a powerful signal to the world that Africa is increasingly becoming a producer, innovator and strategic partner in global healthcare manufacturing.
It also reflects growing confidence in South Africa’s industrial base, and it’s long-term economic potential. The expansion will also create more than 340 skilled jobs and 7 000 indirect jobs.
“These are certainly high-end jobs that we are talking about. These are researchers, chemists, and engineers who participate in the research and development processes of vaccines and pharmaceutical products. I think it is important for the growth of South Africa’s economy. We have prioritised the pharmaceutical sector as an important focus area for the country,” says Trade and Industry Minister, Parks Tau.
Fight against future pandemics
Director General of the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Mlungisi Cele, says the expansion of vaccine manufacturing capacity in Africa can play a major role in the global fight against future pandemics.
“We remain vigilant and we remain committed to understand it much more better so that we prepare the world to respond appropriately,” says Director-General of the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Mlungisi Cele.
Construction of the expansion project was made possible after Biovac secured funding from various international stakeholders. The investment includes a financing package of nearly 100-million-Euros which converts to around R1.8bn. Which was secured through funding deals that were finalised with the International Finance Corporation and the European Investment Bank Group among others.
“We have a €75 million loan from the EIB and a €20 million loan from Proparco, which is a French entity. That brings the total to €95 million because we believe, as we have said together with the African Union and the European Union, that Africa should have the capacity to make vaccines for Africa, in Africa,” says EU Ambassador to South Africa, Sandra Kramer.
Biovac’s expansion project is expected to be completed by 2028. It will initially produce the oral cholera vaccine and later expand to include vaccines for polio (IPV), pneumonia (PCV) and meningitis (MenX).
Once operational, it will have the capacity to manufacture up to 30–40 million doses annually, addressing about 40% of the global cholera vaccine supply gap and supplying regional markets.
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