News - 4th Quarter 2011

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• LONG-SERVICE REWARDED AT NCHALO, DWANGWA AND ESTON

  
  

  BELOW: Nchalo has rewarded 43 employees with 25-year long service awards, with GM Eddie Williams (pictured with factory recipients) congratulating and thanking them and their spouses.	ABOVE: Alexander Chihana and his wife receive the award from Dwangwa’s agriculture manager Andy Stewart. In all, 26 Dwangwa employees received 25-year awards of a certificate, K20 000, a neck-tie or a brooch.
  	LEFT: And at Eston, awards for 25 years long service have been handed to (front, from second left) Thulani Mqadi, Tili Gambu, Nkosithethile Banjiwe, Solakhe Ngaleka and Garth Pellew. In support are members of Eston management (from left) Eric Meyiwa, Dolly Madau, Eddie Padayachee, Paul Naidoo, Niven Pillay and GM Vis Pillay.

• LINING UP NCHALO’S M1 CANAL

  
  

  M1 canal forms the main canal network at Nchalo Estate. It is also the main supply of water to the factory. It has a designed capacity of about 9 000 litres per second (32 400m3 per hour) and commands an area of approximately six thousand hectares.

  
  

  ABOVE: Canal templates being installed.

  Over the years maintenance work on the canal has been minimal and this led to the collapse of the concrete canal panels.  In most cases the canal does not carry its designed flow rate due to the restriction created by the collapsed concrete canal panel and high build-up of silt. Fixing the problem has become a priority project.

  
  

  During the project implementation phase there will be minimal disturbance to flow as the water will be diverted into the drain, which runs parallel to the canal; they are six metres apart.

  
  

  Scope: The canal lining project will cover a running distance of 1.1 kilometres and the first phase will involve preparing an alternative waterway. The exercise will include widening, deepening and reversing the drain flow.

  
  

  ABOVE: Completed section of 200 m.

  
  
  

  The second phase will involve de-silting the existing channel in shorter lengths of 100 m.

  
  

  The final phase will be the casting of concrete panels in a staggered manner following the prefabricated canal templates.

  
  

  Canal Hydraulics: The design of the new M1 canal is an attempt to move away from the common parabolic shape into a simple but durable trapezoidal shape. The side slope of 1: 1 will aid canal stability. It has been designed at canal bed slope of 1 to 5 000 and a velocity of 0.5m3 per second.

  
  
  
  
  

• MARAGRA LENDS A HAND TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES

  
  

  Maragra continues to support the local communities whenever possible. It is in the context of its social responsibility that Maragra built a maternity waitingroom for the local maternity hospital with the capacity to accommodate four expectant mothers. Seen at the hand-over ceremony BELOW RIGHT is the Manhiça District Commissioner, Artur Justo Chindandali, cutting the ribbon while Maragra GM Mike Buchanan (right) looks on.
  
  Additionally, 250 new two-seater school desks were donated to the Maragra Primary School. These desks were purchased from a carpentry shop in Maputo at a cost of MZM 892 124 (equivalent to R193 940) and a further 42 old two-seater school desks were renovated by Maragra’s carpentry workshop.

           

  On another occasion, five public drinking fountains were handed over to the communities of Maciana, Madzule, Palmeira and Calanga with (BELOW LEFT) Zacarias Dache, chief of Maciana Community-Maragra, shown inspecting a new fountain. Further, 3 000 mosquito nets were handed to the Manhiça hospital for distribution in local communities such as Ilha Josina, Ribángua and Calanga.

   

• LACSA TURNS 21

  
  

  ABOVE: Pictured addressing staff members at a celebratory lunch is Alan Greenwood, technical director of Relax Limited (Malta), but based in the UK.

  In  March this year the entire Lacsa (SA – Manufacturing) and Relax (UK/Malta - Marketing) Joint Venture team met for the first time in Durban to celebrate 21 years of operation since the company was established back in 1989. The Lactulose business was built on the site of the mothballed Sorbitol and Mannitol plant at Merebank. The technology for the manufacture of Lactulose was brought to Illovo Sugar by our partners, who have played a major role in the development and optimisation of the process. The successful relationship between Lacsa and Relax and the contribution made by all the role players over the years has led to the business becoming a world-class API pharmaceutical supplier and major player in the world market.

• MEREBANK AT THE MONDE AWARDS

  
  

  The Extra Neutral Potable Alcohol produced at the Merebank distillery again achieved a Grand Gold Award at the 2011 Monde World Selections award ceremony held in Brussels, Belgium. Glendale’s Cape to Rio cane spirit received a gold medal.

   

  Monde World Selections annually adjudicate a wide range of spirits, liqueurs, aperitifs and wines from all the various international producers. Merebank and Glendale products have achieved numerous awards over the years at this prestigious event which draws entries from all the major beverage producers.

• MEET THE NDOLA TEAM AT THEIR STRATEGIC ‘POST’

  
  

  Zambia Sugar’s Ndola Depot is glowingly a marketing gem for the company in strategic markets in the northern part of the country and the regional markets. Located in Ndola town - the provincial headquarters of the Copperbelt province - the depot was the first headquarters for Zambia Sugar. Ndola depot stocks and distributes Zambia Sugar’s Whitespoon products to both domestic and export markets, utilising its 15 000 tonnes storage capacity. The main economic activities on the Copperbelt and surrounding regions served by the depot include mining, manufacturing, agriculture and fishing. The opening up of a new mine in North-Western Province by First Quantum Minerals will enhance the local economy, presenting further growth opportunity in terms of sales volumes for the region - at least 3% growth in sales is expected in the 2011/12 financial year. Results achieved are attributed to sound channel strategy, management support, and relatively favourable economic gains as well as the local team, comprising 12 staff members. Under domestic sales, the depot services ‘Northern region’, where the total market population is estimated at 6 651 464 people. Ndola is supported by other satellite depots run by agents in all provincial headquarters, i.e. Mansa, Solwezi, Kasama, as well as the border town of Nakonde. The region achieved a healthy increase in sales last year. The export section services the Congo DR market with additional stocks supplied through Nakambala depot. This year’s performance in this market showed an unprecedented sales growth of 46% over the previous year’s. Additionally, the economy of Katanga Province in Congo DR has improved tremendously due to increased mining activities. Whitespoon Sugar is generally accepted in the Congo DR market and has become a traditional brand, perceived as sweeter than other brands and more economical. So the outlook is bright, especially with road and infrastructure development in the pipeline to improve trade between the two countries.

  The Ndola depot team members are (from left) Fracxson Mweemba (marketing officer), Rodern Hangoma (export clerk), Emily Chavula (Barloworld - warehouse supervisor), Grace Muhone (acting sales advisor), Boniface Hamukwala (depot accountant), Roderick Chipili (export officer) and Munuka Maina (regional sales manager).

• ZAMBIA’S MARKETING TEAM SCORES

  
  

  Once again the Zambia Sugar marketing team (PICTURED) has scored by repeating the feat of the previous year to grow the domestic sales market by another 10%, thereby achieving a record sales figure yet again. The team attributed the record growth to continued strong macro-economic fundamentals coupled with favourable market conditions and of course the factory, which provided the right sugar pack sizes at the right time for the market. A high of 142 827 tons sugar was sold. A new record was also achieved on the export front. Key characteristics of the achievements were consistent and world-class distribution across the country, improved customer service delivery, increased branding activities, as well as opening up of new key customer accounts.

• FUN IN THE SUN AT THE KILOMBERO GM’S CUP

  
  Always a highlight of the year, the 2010/2011 Kilombero GM’s sport competitions’ finals took place at K11 football ground and it seems everyone grabbed a slice of the action.
  
  

  GM Don Carter-Brown greeted the teams ready for the football final between Factory KI and the Agriculture team. Agriculture was the winner and the team received the trophy and a goat. The referee for the final was Mrs Kibwana Kibwana, who did ‘a wonderful job of handling the game – no complaints from the teams and fair to all players and watchers’.
  Another fun event was the football competition for managers aged 45 and above, which saw factory manager Peter van Greunen challenging for the ball with factory superintendent Moses Madumla. The Factory Managers’ team won two crates of beer. GM’s wife Kay Carter-Brown wished the women’s netball teams well as they prepared to start their match. KI’s team was the eventual overall winner. The prizes were a trophy and two crates of beer.
  The event that always brings the house down is a Kilombero special, the cock chase, invariably a centre of attraction during the sports day. It’s all hands on deck as the crowd takes to the field en masse to chase the cock.

• NAKAMBALA’S PACKING ‘GAME’ SEES NEW BENCHMARKS SET

  
  

  IN 2010, Nakambala factory management introduced a game in the packing station which involved the packaging pre–pack section of Shift A, Shift B and Shift C. The shifts were to compete based on daily, weekly and year-to-date pack tonnages by brand and overall pack. The three shifts were awarded points at the end of each week based on overall sugar pack (this did not include bulk sugar). The tonnages packed figures were updated every morning on a big board posted within the packing station. As each week passed, the shift teams eagerly awaited to see if their shift was on top.

  
  

  At the end of the season it was Shift B that emerged 2010 Champions. At the award ceremony, Kaoma Bowa, packaging manager, commended the entire packaging team for a job well done, emphasising that all three shifts were “grand champions” of the company. Each member of Shift B team received a branded golf T–shirt and cap for outstanding performance and teamwork.

  
  

  At the same ceremony, the pre–pack station received a new fridge for breaking the record for weekly tonnage for sugar packed; the pre-pack station had for seven consecutive days maintained an above 2 000 metric tons sugar packed per day.

  
  

  These efforts were the result of teamwork among the factory sections maintaining the equipment, those packing and those supplying good quality sugar in line with the day’s pack plan. New benchmarks have been set and everyone is looking forward to the 2011/2012 crop.

  
  

  NAKAMBALA’S 2010 packing station champions, Shift B.

• BACK TO LIFE – NOODSBERG’S SAKHOKUHLE PROJECT

  
  

  Following a request from the chief in the Mlamula Traditional Council Area for support to revive sugarcane cultivation, Noodsberg facilitated the coordination of business plans via SA Cane Growers and Government funding (Mafisa) to redevelop the area.

  
  

  The photos show the establishment of the first 60ha of seed cane which will cultivate up to 5 100 tons of seed cane to feed the next phase of the cane expansion projects, totalling 400ha in the immediate area.

  
  

  The disease-free seed cane utilised was supplied from demonstration plots projects used for grower training and utilised labour and contractors from the immediate surrounds, providing employment opportunities and injecting revenue back into the community.

  
  

  Planting 4.4ha - Grower C Mhlongo.	Seed cane from demonstration plots is delivered in field with equipment from contractor N Manyoni.
  Seed cane demonstration plot. There are three varieties - N12, N48 and N37 - planted in the Nambitani demonstration plot.

• SYRUP PLANT GETS A NEW FILLING MACHINE

  
  At the Illovo-Eston syrup plant, a new plastic squeeze bottle filling machine has been commissioned which has replaced the old mechanically challenged and costly to maintain system and is expected to increase output by at least 20%. The increased capacity holds much promise and the syrup plant is well poised for any increase in volumes. An additional benefit of the acquisition is the easy adaptation and incorporation into the syrup plant's HACCP principles and process flow charts.
  
  

  AT LEFT is the new plastic squeeze bottle filling machine, and . . .

   

   

   

   

   

  
  AT RIGHT are syrup staff members (from left) C Marimuthoo (plant fitter), ND Pillay (packing supervisor) and J Myeni (filler operator) with the new line.

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

• MIKE TALKS ABOUT THE AIDS TEST

  
  

  
  

  
  

  As customary, Maragra marked World AIDS Day with a gathering where GM Mike Buchanan addressed employees and encouraged them to take the voluntary test.

  
  

  This gathering was also marked by a drama play performed by an in-house theatre group.

  
  

  A total of 200 employees were voluntarily tested on the day, including members of the management team.

• REWARD FOR GOING THAT EXTRA MILE

  
  

  Jabulani Hlatshwayo, Ubombo’s risk control manager in the agriculture division, has been honoured by the Who’s Who international organisation for a sterling performance in the final year of his MBL studies.

  
  

  The Who’s Who of Professionals is an international  historical society that functions to recognise individuals who are successful in varying areas of expertise by listing them among their peers. It also provides an international forum for networking reference and self promotion, thus expanding their success.

  
  

  Jabulani’s hard work paid off when his thesis was identified by the organisation as being outstanding. They then called him for an interview and to get his curriculum vitae.  The CV and the thesis subsequently qualified him for the award and listing in the Who’s Who Historical Society.

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

• SPOT THE DIFFERENCE?. . . HARDLY ANY, IS THERE!

  
  

  Looking rather like a combined advert for Men’s Health and Family Day are father and son Chris and Dirk van den Berg after they completed Day 2 of the Dusi canoe marathon together. Chris is HR manager at Kilombero, Dirk runs his own freight transport company, and we don’t think we need to tell you which is which!.

  
  
  
  
  
  
  

• SEZELA WALKS FOR FUN

  
  

  The Sezela Women’s Circle held a successful 5km fun walk on 26 March, well organised by chairperson Sushi Govender, with a substantial amount collected for the temple. Among the participants were Busi Mghobozi and Allen Shozi from the HR department, Bradley Diedricks from Sappi and his wife Charlene and Louis Shunmugam from Sezela mill. Busi and Allen were prize winners and collected Illovo syrup and Illovo shirts.

  
  

  The watering point.	Busi Mghobozi and Allen Shozi from Sezela HR were among the prize winners.