Illovo Sugar South Africa - About Us
Having joined Illovo in 2021 as Manufacturing Director with 36 years of senior, executive and technical experience within the sugar industry, Ricky was appointed as Managing Director in the same year. With his solid “sugar” knowledge base, Ricky’s focus is on leading the company through challenging headwinds being faced by the industry and Illovo Sugar South Africa itself, and to deliver on the business’ ambitious growth plans by capturing new and exciting opportunities.
Ricky Govender
Managing Director
Having joined Illovo in 2021 as Manufacturing Director with 36 years of senior, executive and technical experience within the sugar industry, Ricky was appointed as Managing Director in the same year. With his solid “sugar” knowledge base, Ricky’s focus is on leading the company through challenging headwinds being faced by the industry and Illovo Sugar South Africa itself, and to deliver on the business’ ambitious growth plans by capturing new and exciting opportunities.
Brendan Paulse
Finance Head
Bianca Anthon
HR Head
Hlako Rachidi
Commercial & Supply Chain Head
Baldwin Muzondo
Transformation Head
Lindiwe Khuzwayo
Corporate Affairs Head
Eckard Lucht
Manufacturing Head
Andrew Cochrane
Agriculture Executive
Duduza Madlala
General Manager - Noodsberg Mill
Dennis Dlamini
General Manager - Eston Mill
Leon Haggie
General Manager - Sezela Mill
Sezela Mill
Crushing Capacity: 2,37mtpa
Located on the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal halfway between Durban and Port Shepstone, Sezela Mill opened in 1915 and continues to contribute to the growth of the South African sugar industry.
Noodsberg Mill
Crushing Capacity: 1,48mtpa
Noodsberg is situated near Dalton in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. Its cane supply area stretches as far as Baynesfield to the west, the Muden area and the Kranskop area. All cane transport is by road.
Eston Mill
Crushing Capacity: 1,35mtpa
Eston Mill was established in 1995 to replace the old Illovo Mill. All cane deliveries are received on road from growers within about a 0-58 km radius.
Pietermaritzburg Warehouse
The 51 000m2, 170,000-ton capacity PMB warehouse is a state-of-the-art facility designed to ensure the efficient storage and distribution of sugar. Commissioned in 2013, it serves as a central distribution point between our production facilities in KZN and our retail and industrial customers countrywide.
Germiston Bulk Depot (GBD)
Commissioned in 2004, the Germiston Bulk Depot (GBD) is a strategically located facility that supplies sugar to industrial customers in Gauteng and surrounding areas. The facility boasts five silos with a total capacity of 21,500 tons.
GROUP HOLDING STRUCTURE
GROUP HOLDING STRUCTURE
1891
Reynolds Brothers Limited is listed as a public company and Charles George (CG) Smith, a local entrepreneur, is appointed as its agent in Durban. This sparks the genesis of CG Smith Sugar.
1893
C.G. Smith becomes a shareholder in Reynolds Brothers.
1904
The Umzimkulu Mill joins the Smith fold.
1915
Reynolds Brothers opens the Sezela mill; and Natal Cane By-Products Limited (now Illovo Merebank) is listed as a public company.
1925
The Illovo Mill, just south of Durban, is the first in South Africa to operate a refinery.
1962
The year of the “Sugar Wars”, involving a consortium of CG Smith and Company, Reynolds Brothers Limited, Tongaat Sugar, Crookes Brothers and Gledhow-Chaka’s Kraal, which takes a controlling interest in Sir JL Hulett and Sons.
1976
The CG Smith Group’s sugar interests are merged into CG Smith Sugar Limited.
1977
CG Smith Sugar Limited acquires the Illovo Group from Tate and Lyle.
1991
CG Smith Sugar Limited celebrates its centenary.
1992
CG Smith Sugar is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), and the company acquires the Umfolozi sugar mill.
1994
The company name is changed to Illovo Sugar Limited to identify with the Illovo brand of sugars and syrup.
1996
Illovo acquires a 50% stake in Maragra Açúcar SA in Mozambique.
1997
Illovo acquires Lonrho Sugar Corporation Limited, with sugar assets in Malawi, Eswatini, Mauritius and South Africa.
1998
Illovo acquires a 55% stake in Kilombero Sugar Company in Tanzania.
2001
Illovo sells its Mauritian interests and acquires a controlling interest in Zambia Sugar Plc.
2006
Associated British Foods plc., a company listed on the London Stock Exchange, acquires a 51% controlling stake in Illovo.
2009
The major cane and factory expansion of the Nakambala sugar mill in Zambia, which results in a doubling of annual sugar production to more than 400 000 tons, is successfully commissioned.
2010
The South African business is re-structured and its relevant assets transferred to a wholly-owned subsidiary, Illovo Sugar (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd.
2011
The successful commisioning of Ubombo’s major factory expansion and co-generation project in Eswatini.
2013
The new South African warehouse is officially opened in Pietermaritzburg and Kilombero’s new distillery is commissioned.
2016
Illovo Sugar Limited becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of ABF.
2016
Zambia Sugar commissions its sugar capacity expansion project which includes the construction of a high-specification refinery to more than double annual refined sugar production capacity to around 100 000.
2017
Illovo Sugar Limited adopts the name change to Illovo Sugar Africa (Pty) Ltd, and the Group embarks upon on a significant market-focused drive to become a consumer facing organisation.
2019/20
Illovo launches the Group-wide Fit4Future initiative focused on addressing the Group’s cost base and driving efficiency improvements along the entire value chain.
The Group re-aligns its operating model in support of its strategy to become a more local and regional, consumer-centric business.
2020
Illovo acquires a further 20% interest in Kilombero Sugar Corporation Limited to bring its total holdings in the company to 75%, with the balance of the shares owned by Government of Tanzania.
2020
Maragra Açúcar SA in Mozambique is recapitalised representing a significant vote of confidence in the business and its continued growth opportunities in the Manhica district.
