This initiative, conducted in partnership with the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition (dtic), focused on creating a comprehensive grading system to assess the performance of industrial parks across South Africa. The grading framework was designed to evaluate critical areas such as infrastructure quality, tenant composition, operational efficiency, and alignment with regional and national economic objectives. A significant aspect of the project was the analysis of the spatial and sectoral distribution of industrial parks, assessing their contributions to attracting investment, creating jobs, and fostering industrial specialization. The grading system also incorporated a pre-development assessment tool to determine the feasibility of proposed industrial parks, ensuring alignment with economic priorities and a sustainable impact on local economies. In addition, the project involved extensive consultations with key stakeholders, including park and SEZ operators, tenants, and policymakers. These engagements provided valuable insights into governance challenges, infrastructure requirements, and emerging sectoral trends, all of which informed the development of the grading framework. Our team conducted an in-depth analysis of the performance of existing industrial parks, evaluating their operational efficiency, tenant profiles, and alignment with broader economic goals. We reviewed South Africa’s industrial policy frameworks to understand their influence on the development and management of industrial parks and SEZs. Stakeholder consultations were a key component, with our team engaging park operators, tenants, and government representatives to gather insights on operational challenges and growth opportunities. Rapid assessments of physical planning and infrastructure within selected parks were also undertaken, identifying areas in need of redevelopment or improvement. We analyzed the socio-economic impacts of industrial parks, particularly their role in job creation, investment attraction, and community development. A pre-development grading framework was developed to evaluate the feasibility and economic potential of new industrial parks. Additionally, we identified key challenges affecting the performance of industrial parks and proposed actionable strategies to improve accountability, operational outcomes, and alignment with regional and national priorities. These strategies were designed to ensure that industrial parks contribute effectively to South Africa’s economic growth and diversification goals.