Kimberley’s largest private employer celebrates staff

Over 30 employees at South Africa’s leading specialist producer of quality beef products to South Africa and beyond, Beefmaster Group, have been employed at the company for between 20 to 30 years.

“This is an exceptional success story worth celebrating, especially when looked at in the context of a country where resignations, job hopping and a skills drain are happening at an alarming pace,” says Cindy Nkgoeng, HR manager at Beefmaster Group, citing recent Statistics SA data, which says that the country’s unemployment rate remains high at 33.9%.

According to Nkgoeng, it is not very often that employees reach such milestones within organisations.

“Many of our staff members started with minimum wage jobs and have climbed the ranks to management over the years,” she says, adding that the company goes to extraordinary lengths to recognise hard work and dedication. “We understand that our employees make the company; without them we simply would not exist.”

To honour long-serving staff members who’ve been with the Group for 10 ,15, 20, 25 and 30 years, the Group for the first-time since its inception, hosted a glamarous awards dinner and ceremony. A special mention must be made of Frans Kiba, David Molai, Doctor Molai and Kelinboy Motsamai, who have been with the company for thirty years.

“The celebration was to recognise and reward employees for their resilience, loyalty, longevity, and contribution they have made to the company over the years,” says Nkgoeng.

The ceremony saw staff receive special certificates and accolades, with a speech made by company CEO, Louw van Reenen, who said how proud and privileged he was to have signed each certificate, and that it brought good memories to mind about the history of the company, and how each employee played their part in building it.

Beefmaster Group founder, Lourie Van Reenen, was also part of the evenings events and cited that one of the core values of the business is extended family, which is what helps keep employees at the company.

When asked why so many employees have chosen to remain with Beefmaster Group for so many years, Nkgoeng emphasises the twin aspects of culture, as well as training and skills development.

“At the Group, we try to instil a cohesive organisational culture in which everyone feels they are valued and belong, and they are afforded opportunities to grow,” says Nkgoeng.

She says investing in the training and skills development of a company’s employees is critical for the success of a business and its employees, together with recognition of staff.

“Training and development of our staff have always been a high priority. The training does not only extend to growing skills in the workplace, but also the social, intellectual, and emotional wellbeing of our staff,” concludes Nkgoeng.

Employees who have completed 30 Years