# South Africa needs to strengthen its innovation ecosystems, special economic zones, and governance frameworks. This is according to Tshwane University of Technology professor Mashupye Maseremule. The country’s SEZs contribute 30.973-billion-rand in investment and over 27-thousand permanent jobs. Maseremule says despite this, SEZs often lack comprehensive performance evaluations, focusing primarily on outputs like job creation while neglecting costs, occupancy rates, and tenant contributions. He adds that SEZs should be strategically located in regions with strong infrastructure and market access.