Human resources, with heart
Legacy iLifa assisted Nalitha Fishing to institute an internship programme. The six young South Africans who benefited from the programme in its first year are (left to right): Antonio Arendse, Lwando Sontshalaba, Chanté Benson, Mzukisi Nogwaxa, Andisiwe Mangweni and Johane Mabuza.
Human resources, with heart
Newly established Human Resources (HR) consultancy, Legacy iLifa, has worked with a small rights holder in the hake deep-sea trawl fishery to provide valuable workplace experience for six young South Africans.
Shortly after its establishment in late 2019, Legacy iLifa Consulting began working with Nalitha Fishing, a young fishing company based in Hout Bay with interests in the hake deep-sea trawl, hake longline, tuna pole and west coast rock lobster fisheries.
Legacy iLifa’s task was to help Nalitha Fishing to comply with HR legislation by developing and submitting an employment equity and workplace skills plan; assist the company to attract and hire professional talent; implement training and coaching programmes; and advise on broad-based black economic empowerment legislation and regulations.
The opportunity to work with Nalitha Fishing on a full suite of HR tasks was a great opportunity, says Nomaxabiso Teyise, managing director and principal consultant in Legacy iLifa:
“Nalitha Fishing Group was our first client, which was great because sometimes as an entrepreneur you know your skills, you know your craft, but you don’t necessarily know how to start a business, so the fact that I had my first client was really great.”
Legacy iLifa was able to help Nalitha put in place basic HR requirements like contracts, payment structures and proper remuneration, but the partnership between the two young companies progressed to the establishment of a 12-month formal learnership/internship programme that assisted six young South Africans to gain vital workplace training and experience.
The interns were drawn from all over South Africa and have a variety of qualifications, from financial administration to operations management and human resources.
“They got a learning opportunity, on-the-job experience, and some of them are going to be offered permanent jobs,” explains Teyise.
“What I really like about the partnership with Nalitha Fishing is that it is a business with heart. We’re doing business but we’re also making a very positive impact in communities and we’re giving people a hand up.”
Even in the face of the Covid-19 lockdowns and restrictions, Legacy iLifa has developed and grown, attracting business from companies across the full spectrum of the economy. Whereas the company offers a wide range of HR services, what is most appealing to managing director Teyise is the opportunity to work with companies on transforming the economy and the country.
“The reason my company is called Legacy iLifa is that we as a country come from a legacy of exclusion and it’s had a generational impact – young people are still suffering from what happened in the past. My company has been set up to shift the narrative and create a different legacy, making sure that people are included, that they have dignity and can look after themselves,” she explains.
Teyise believes the fishing industry presents huge opportunity for South Africa.
“There are many companies like Nalitha Fishing that are opening doors for people to get into the value chain – not necessarily just in fishing itself – and if those companies that are doing the fishing are thriving, and you’ve got progressive leaders that are really interested in creating opportunities for others, then the sector becomes dynamic and vibrant and it can really accommodate a lot more within the value chain,” she says.