ArcelorMittal’s head of mergers and acquisitions, Ondra Otradovec, has traveled to South Africa for discussions with the state‑owned Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition regarding a potential sale of the steelmaker’s local unit, according to people familiar with the matter. The presence of the Luxembourg‑based group’s dealmaker signals that talks have accelerated, the sources said. The South African unit, ArcelorMittal South Africa, has been exploring options amid financial strain at its long‑steel operations. Bloomberg reported the meetings are part of ongoing engagement with authorities as the parties assess transaction structures and terms; details such as valuation, timing and potential buyers were not disclosed by the sources. The IDC is the country’s top development‑finance institution and has previously been involved in efforts to support South Africa’s domestic steel value chain. The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition has also participated in the discussions, one person said. ArcelorMittal did not immediately comment in the report, and the IDC and the department did not respond to requests for comment. The latest development follows months of scrutiny of the unit’s future and underscores active government‑industry talks around safeguarding steelmaking capacity and jobs in South Africa.