2018 – Safika Holdings

Integrated protein production hub approved for Somerset

6 December, 2018

Plans for a multi million dollar integrated protein production hub at Coominya has been awarded preliminary approval by Somerset Regional Council.

The Brisbane Valley Protein Precinct master plan aims to satisfy Asia’s appetite for quality meat and will help position the region for a buoyant future.

Brisbane Valley Protein managing director, Duncan Brown, welcomed Somerset Regional Council’s strong endorsement of the precinct which he said would help provide a future opportunity in food production for generations to come.

“The Somerset Region already punches above its weight in terms of producing quality meat products for the world and food production accounts for more employment than any other sector,” Mr Brown said.

“Council’s support means this future is secure with nearly 3000 acres set aside for projects that support the growing, processing and exporting of quality products as well as training of young people for a future in food and hospitality initiatives that will continue to put the region on the map as a food tourism destination.

“Our hope is the precinct becomes a hub for conceiving and realising food production dreams.”

The master plan is set on 2500 acres near the township of Coominya and features 10 sub-areas accommodating a range of uses from food-based tourism, training, meat processing and livestock production.

Mr Brown said the preliminary approval reflected the strong community support for the project and meant the “heavy lifting” had been done up front in terms of environmental modelling.

“We went through a 60 day community consultation process and didn’t receive a single negative submission,” he said.

“We’d like to thank the community for their belief in the project and the positive outcomes we all believe it can deliver in the area.

“The approval provides a major shot of confidence for investors and others seeking to bring the precinct to life.”

Somerset Mayor Graeme Lehmann said the development was the first dedicated protein production hub in Australia.

“This development is well planned, strategic and will bring huge benefits to the region,” Cr Lehmann said.

“This is great news for our community in that it will bring more jobs to the region and showcase Somerset on the international stage through production, exports and hospitality modelling.”

The master planned area will include a variety of rural and food production land uses that could include poultry, quail, game birds, cattle protein precincts including food processing, hatcheries and a growing farm.

Also contained within the master plan is the establishment of a produce pavilion, restaurants, markets, food hospitality areas including state-of-the-art training facilities, tourist park and a function facility.

The project will be rolled out in stages, each stage subject to a code assessable development application, with stage one of the precinct – an integrated, ‘hatch to dispatch’ quail business – completed in August this year and the first exports of quail to Asia happening last week.

Safika’s Brisbane Valley positioned for strong export future

30 November, 2018

The Brisbane Valley Protein Precinct has taken an important step towards satisfying Asia’s appetite for quality meat. Australia’s Somerset Regional Council has granted preliminary approval for the company’s masterplan, a strong endorsement of the project.

The masterplan is set on 2500 acres (1011 hectares) near the town of Coominya and features ten sub areas accommodating a range of uses from food-based tourism, training, meat processing and livestock production. The project will be rolled out in stages, each stage subject to a code assessible development application.

Brisbane Valley Protein managing director, Duncan Brown, welcomed the announcement by the council which he said would help provide future opportunities in food production for generations to come.

Safika’s Saki Macozoma said that Brisbane Valley is an important component in Safika’s strategy of expanding its agricultural interests. “Brisbane Valley is working to fulfil an important need for Asia and doing so in a way that will create jobs and add value,” he said.

Marc Ber, of Safika International, said that hard work and meticulous planning by the team is paying off. “Safika and Brisbane Valley Protein are creating a business hub that is going to play an important role in job creation and food provision for generations to come, adding value to all our stakeholders.”

Duncan Brown said: “The Somerset Region already punches above its weight in terms of producing quality meat products for the world and food production accounts for more employment than any other sector,” Mr Brown said.

“Council’s support means this future is secure. We have set aside nearly 3000 acres (1214 hectares) for projects that support the growing, processing and exporting of quality products. We are also training young people for a future in food and hospitality initiatives that will continue to put the region on the map as a food tourism destination.”

Mr Brown said the preliminary approval reflected the strong community support for the project and meant the “heavy lifting” had been done up front in terms of environmental modelling.

“We went through a 60-day community consultation process and didn’t receive a single negative submission. We’d like to thank the community for its belief in the project and the positive outcomes we all believe it can deliver in the area. The approval provides a major shot of confidence for investors and others seeking to bring the precinct to life.”

Stage 1 of the precinct – an integrated, ‘hatch to dispatch’ quail business – was completed in August this year with the first exports of quail to Asia happening last week.

“This project is helping put the Brisbane valley and Somerset Region on the map.”

Historic first export to Hong Kong for Safika company

16 November, 2018

Safika’s Australian Brisbane Valley Holdings has exported its first shipment of quails to Hong Kong, a milestone for what is to become a major export hub for Safika’s agricultural enterprises.

Quail processing venture launched

4 July, 2018

Australian cabinet minister Cameron Dick and Saki Macozoma enjoying a taste of quail

Australia’s Brisbane Valley Protein Precinct, in which Safika has a significant investment, has launched its new quail processing plant. It was officially opened by Australia’s State Development Minister Cameron Dick. Safika’s chairman Saki Macozoma was present at the event.

The R20-million plant is the first stage of the protein precinct master plan which will be completed in four stages.

“This is a great example of the private sector working with government to create jobs and economic development in Queensland,” Minister Dick said.

Brisbane Valley Protein has established hatching, growing and processing infrastructure – the processing plant is the first export orientated quail abattoir in Queensland.

“We are very excited by this venture. Already it is providing employment for locals but it means the Brisbane Valley name will be gracing the menus of some of the top nations in the world,” Mr. Brown said.

Incredible journey of Bay’s man of steel

22 May, 2018

Nelson Mandela leads a delegation of the ANC at the Union Buildings in the 1990s . With him are Jacob Zuma (with Mandela’s briefcase), Saki Macozoma and Joe Nhlanhla. Jay Naidoo and Alec Erwin can be seen in the background

Macozoma still interested in PE rail links that export his ore

As a young boy fascinated by the seemingly endless strings of wagons, Saki Macozoma took pleasure from watching trains as they trundled their way along Port Elizabeth’s railway lines.

These days, a youthful, 61-year-old Macozoma still keeps a sharp eye on the railway tracks, only now with less fascination and a lot more pleasure.

This is because a significant number of the wagons hauled into the city each week are delivering thousands of tons of manganese ore from his Northern Cape mine to the Port Elizabeth Harbour.

From there, the currently wellpriced ore is shipped into China’s insatiable steel industry, along with others around the world.

Undoubtedly one of Nelson Mandela Bay’s most successful businessmen, Macozoma sat down with the Weekend Post this week.

A softly spoken, but measured Macozoma revealed snippets of a fast-paced, eclectic life. One which saw him rise from political imprisonment on Robben Island to a mining magnate currently poised for a stock exchange listing.

A true heavyweight, in both the political and business divisions, the Kwazakhele-born and educated father of three has been boxing clever since being imprisoned for five years alongside Nelson Mandela.

Following two years’ service as a member of South Africa’s first democratic parliament, the Unisaand Boston University-degreed man stepped into the world of big business when he was appointed managing director of the country’s largest parastatal, Transnet Limited, in 1996.

Saki Macozoma

There was no discussion, however, on the irony of a Transnet head later becoming one of the rail and harbour authority’s biggest customers.

But Transnet was just the beginning for Macozoma, who went on to chair South African Airways and join the boards of a raft of companies and civil institutions.

While he has lived in Johannesburg for the past 23 years, he continues to retain strong ties to the Bay, where he maintains his Kwazakhele home and retains his memberships on the boards of both the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber and Volkswagen Group South Africa.

His first real job, Macozoma revealed, was with a blasting and excavation firm specialising in roadworks. “It did not last long. I got fired. It seemed the security police did not want me near any explosives,” quipped Macozoma dryly.

Turning to the Tshipi é Ntle Manganese Mine in the Kalahari Manganese Field – of which, through his Main Street 774 and Ntsimbintle Mining entities, he is a majority shareholder, Macozoma sees a bright future – not just for the mine – but also for manganese.

“The mine, which is in the southern part of the field, has a life span of about 100 years, so it is going to be in business for a long time. In addition, there are two more mining deposits waiting to be developed in the north of the field.

“We intended opening these two mines. Part of the preparation for this will be a listing on the JSE.”

Nonchalant about his own success, expressing simply that he was happy, Macozoma livened up significantly when questioned around any advice he had for budding entrepreneurs.

“The youth, exposed to rap videos and Instagram-type media are being fooled into thinking that there is easy money out there.

“There is no easy money and hard work, the way to success, is not emphasised enough these days. I often still work 18-hour days. Patience, hard work, genuine commitment and taking full responsibility are the keys to success,” he said.

Macozoma also addressed an issue close to the hearts of Bay authorities, business and the public – the removal of the manganese ore dumps from the harbour in favour of the establishment of a long-mooted waterfront.

“There should never have been a manganese operation in the middle of the city. Transnet’s processes are slow, but the operation will be moved to the harbour at Coega in 2023.

“As it was, when the city was addressing casino licensing and the location of the region’s casino, I, in my capacity at Transnet at the time, had opened land in the harbour for such an operation. That however did not materialise, as the licence was awarded to the current casino operators. So, I certainly support the development of a waterfront in the harbour precinct.”

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Herald Live by Shaun Gillham

Ngoasheng and Macozoma acknowledged for their support of disadvantaged students

16 March, 2018

Safika’s chairman, Saki Macozoma and chief executive, Moss Ngoasheng have been acknowledged by the Black Professionals Scholarship Fund (BPSF) for their regular and unwavering support for educational initiatives in South Africa.

BPSF head Tyson Sithole made the presentations at a special event, which raised more than R1-million to fund tertiary studies of gifted but disadvantaged students.

From Safika’s inception, Moss and Saki have financially supported and initiated a variety of educational scholarship, bursary and mentorship programmes, often preferring to do so anonymously.

The Black Professionals Scholarship Fund (BPSF) was formed in 2014 by young black professionals as a response to the challenge of a poor education system in South Africa. Members of the BPSF contribute to a central fund from their salaries each month and provide mentorship to students to help them manage the transition from high school to university.

Saki has served as chairman of the University Council of the Witwatersrand and of the Council for Higher Education. He is a member of the Board of Governors of Rhodes University.