Page 73 - KZN Top Busines Portfolio 2020/21

are making a significant impact in the Noodsberg
cane supply area, empowering small-scale growers to
change livelihoods and create economic opportunities
for themselves and their communities.
Horn says, “The growers are always at the heart of
everything we do as a team, and we can see the
rewards of this approach in the strength and depth
of the relationships that we have developed with
them. As a team, we have spent a great deal of time
earning the trust of the community and the community
leaders; we listen, and we work together for the benefit
of all. Our communities can see this and understand
the opportunities that working together can bring not
only for themselves, but for everyone.”
Illovo hosts regular training sessions for its growers
and contractors, as well as field days to get out and
see those that may not be able to make it to the
training. The development is not one-way though.
“As a team, we have developed too and learnt new
ways and approaches to engage with our larger-
scale growers to get shared value from our mutual
relationships. Our aim is to empower local growers,
and in doing so, we are able to change livelihoods and
create jobs as the payment for the sugar cane goes In the future, Horn would want to get back to in-
directly back into the community. This supports the person training sessions and knowledge transfer
building of new houses and sending children from the field days with the growers. “We have a saying here:
villages off to school and university. This is where the ‘grow the grower to grow the cane’ and I think this
true impact lies,” explains Horn. demonstrates how everything we do as a team in
The coronavirus pandemic has had a huge impact, with Noodsberg and Sezela comes back to the grower as
both positives and negatives for Illovo. While using the focal point. It’s a real honour for me to lead such a
technology to connect with Illovo’s grower base has passionate team, to see the impact that we are having
been one of the biggest growth areas over the past locally, and to think about what else we can do to
eight years, it has accelerated during the coronavirus support our growers.”
pandemic. A significant shift in the ‘ways of work’ has “I believe that the saying ‘You’re never too old to
been a move from the in-person interactions to more learn’ provides real words to live by. Learn as much as
consistently online or digital forms of communication. you can but don’t keep it to yourself, share it around.’
Many growers have missed the physical conversation This is what I try to bring to my team and my role
and face-to-face engagement. However, the good every day. A deep passion runs within me to support
news is that Illovo has been able to fast track the those around me. I hope that by doing so, I can inspire
adoption of digitalisation and technology amongst its future generations to not only consider the sugar
grower base, which would possibly have taken longer industry for their careers, but the wider agricultural
had the global pandemic not occurred. industry too.”

Full Name of Company: Illovo Sugar (South Africa) KEY PERSONNEL
Proprietary Limited Managing Director: Mamongae Mahlare
Nature of Business: Agriculture Processing Corporate Affairs Director: Sibusiso Hlela
Services / Products: Sugar and Downstream Products Financial Director: Mark Gounder
Auditors / Accountants: Ernst & Young CONTACT DETAILS
Attorneys: Garlicke & Bousfield Incorporated Physical Address: 1 Nokwe Ave, Ridgeside, Umhlanga
Bankers: The Standard Bank Group Limited Rocks, Durban
Postal Address: P.O. Box 194, Durban
Advertising Agency: 13th Floor, Whalley Collective and Tel: +27 (0)31 508 4300
Paton Tupper Advertising Fax: +27 (0)31 508 4535
B-BBEE Status: Level 2 Website: www.illovosugar.com
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