CELEBRATE 100 YEARS
This year’s celebrations are a particularly momentous occasion for the Oceana Group, as not only does this year mark the centenary of the birth of Nelson Mandela, but it also commemorates 100 years of Oceana Group’s value creation for generations to come. We are immensely honoured to share this momentous milestone with the great Madiba, particularly as it was on the back of his legacy that we undertook our journey to become one of the key players in shaping sustainability and value creation in today’s fishing industry.
As we reflect on Mandela’s centenary, which focuses on shelter, volunteerism, education, literacy and food security, we can proudly share that we have maintained long-term, sustainable economic and societal value for South Africans, through our concerted efforts to convert fishing rights into shared value for our employees, stakeholders and the communities in which we operate. We have grown from a company employing 500 people in 1927 to currently supporting close to 6 000 employees across South Africa, Namibia, Angola and the United States.
As recently as last year, the group faced a tremendous threat to job and food security with the continued drought in the Western Cape. To secure the livelihood of our employees and promote food security, we have invested R30 million in two new seawater desalination plants which are designed to pump and secure 1.4 million litres of water supply to our two Lucky Star canneries and fishmeal facilities in St Helena Bay and Laaiplek.
As one of the most empowered companies on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, our solid transformation credentials show our commitment and contribution to an inclusive economy and the societal issues faced by our country. As a founding member of the Responsible Fisheries Alliance, together with the WWF South Africa, Birdlife South Africa and three other fishing companies, we advocate the importance of sustainable fishing by keeping our marine ecosystem healthy and preserving our oceans.
We reflect our commitment to voluntarism, education and food security through our various corporate social investment programmes. We continue to show our steadfast support to Mandela Day through our partnership with Stop Hunger Now SA by directing considerable efforts towards eradicating hunger on a national scale every year. To date, our employees have brought hope and a sense of security to our county’s most vulnerable children by packing more than 200 000 meals in the last six years through this significant partnership.
As we celebrate our 100-year anniversary, to the great Madiba we say thank you. You have paved the way and laid the foundation for an inclusive, empowered society and have inspired us all to continue your legacy.