COMPANY PROFILE 

The Royal Swaziland Sugar Corporation Limited (RSSC), located in the north-eastern Lowveld is one of the largest companies in Swaziland. The company employs over 3 500 people and produces two-thirds of the country’s sugar and a significant quantity of ethanol.

Listed on the Swaziland Stock Exchange, RSSC is owned by several hundred shareholders, the majority shareholder being Tibiyo Taka Ngwane with 53.1%, followed by Tsb Sugar International (Proprietary) Limited with 26.3%. Other shareholders include the Swaziland Government, the Nigerian Government, Coca-Cola Export Corporation Limited and Booker Tate Limited.

RSSC manages 15 607 hectares of irrigated sugar cane on two estates leased from the Swazi Nation and manages a further 5 018 hectares on behalf of third parties, which collectively deliver approximately 2.3 million tonnes of cane per season to the Group’s two sugar mills.

These two mills currently crush cane at a combined throughput of 741 tonnes per hour, producing in excess of 430 000 tonnes of sugar (96oPol) ) per season.  RSSC also operates a sugar refinery situated at the Mhlume mill, whose capacity is 170 000 tonnes of refined sugar, and a 32 million litre capacity ethanol plant which is situated adjacent to the Simunye mill.

RSSC plays a significant role in the development of rural Swaziland, with over 2 500 families currently involved in sugar cane production as small-scale farmers who deliver to its two mills. From a land area measuring 11 356 hectares, they produce 1.2 million tonnes of sugar cane and supply 52.0% of the Mhlume mill’s total cane and 25.0% of the Simunye mill’s total cane.

RSSC provides and manages housing and all related infrastructure for its employees and their dependants within the estates’ various towns and villages.  Apart from the Group’s direct employees, a further 20 000 people live on the estates. The Group provides health care at two site based clinics which are centrally managed by a Medical Services Manager. The emphasis is on primary health care and the prevention of diseases such as HIV and TB. First class primary education is also provided for employees’ children at a private English medium school called Thembelisha Preparatory School.  The Group is also a founder member and a major stakeholder in Mananga College, a private high school established to improve the availability of first class education facilities in the Lowveld.  There are a further seven Government owned schools on the estates - four primary schools and three high schools - to which the Group provides substantial support.

A wide range of recreational facilities are provided through two RSSC owned country clubs, one on each estate, as well as through other facilities that are located in strategic areas on each estate.  The Group also provides sponsorship for cultural, educational and sporting activities.A well established Safety, Health and Environmental policy aims to provide ideal working conditions, safeguarding those affected by the operations of RSSC and ensuring the maintenance of a clean and healthy environment.RSSC has recognised HIV/AIDS as a strategic business issue and is managing it at the highest level in the organisation. This is facilitated through the HIV/AIDS Tripartite Committee in which Management, the Staff Association and the Union are represented.  The Managing Director chairs this committee. An HIV/AIDS Programme Coordinator facilitates all HIV/AIDS programmes and related issues.

The two Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) centers which were established jointly with the National Emergency Response Council on HIV/AIDS (NERCHA) in 2003 at Mhlume and Simunye estates continue to operate successfully. The free Anti Retroviral Treatment (ART) which became available for employees towards the end of 2004 through NERCHA from the Global Fund continues to be accessible to all.

COMPANY HISTORY 

The formation of the Royal Swaziland Sugar Corporation Ltd (RSSC) was taken in 1973 when Tibiyo TakaNgwane, working in close co-operation with the Commonwealth Development Corporation (CDC), carried out a pre-investment study for the expansion of sugar production.

The results of the pre-investment appraisal prompted a final planning and development study for a completely new project - the third mill. This was entrusted to Tate and Lyle Technical Services Limited (TLTS) and completed in June 1975.

At the same time the Swazi Government and Tibiyo takaNgwane entered into a wider partnership with the Tate and Lyle Group to bring the project into being.

On 7th October 1978 His Majesty King Sobhuza 11, OBE, Ngwenyama of Swaziland, dedicated the Swazi Third Sugar Mill "Simunye Sugar Estate - We are one". So culminated five years of intensive planning and negotiation to effect another major increase in sugar production in Swaziland.

 By the 1st May, 1979, The Royal Swaziland Sugar Corporation Limited, sole proprietors of Simunye Sugar Estate (SSE), was created by seven partners signing a Joint Venture Agreement with the Swaziland Government and Tibiyo takaNgwane in December 1977, to subscribe E40.l million of equity share capital. This was subscribed by October, 1978.

Loan capital amounting to approximately E64 million was made available by the Swaziland Government, Tibiyo takaNgwane, CDC, DEG, IFC and the European Investment Bank (EIB).

Simunye Sugar Estate was developed by the Royal Swaziland Sugar Corporation (RSSC) in the late 1970’s. 10 000 hectares of light tree cover and bush were cleared to provide over 9 000 hectares of irrigated sugar cane together with roads, water storage, canal systems, offices, stores and maintenance workshops.

In 1980 the Simunye Sugar mill was commissioned capable of producing 120,000 tonnes sugar per annum initially. It was subsequently expanded in 2000 to accommodate cane purchased from new independent cane farmer schemes.

 Mhlume Sugar Estate

 In 1955, following cane trials undertaken by the Commonwealth Develoipment Corporation (CDC) that indicated that cane growing was a viable proposition if augmented by irrigation, Mhlume (Swaziland) Sugar Company Limited was registered as a sugar factory and cane estate. This was a joint venture project between Sir J.L Hulett & Sons and the then Commonwealth Development Corporation (CDC).

In 1957, the Komati River Barage, with its 88km gravity canal, was commissioned to provide the required irrigation. Known as Mhlume Water, this system was managed by Inyoni ami Swaziland Irrigation Scheme (IYSIS). 

The Mhlume Sugar Estate was incorporated in June 1958, and the Mill was commissioned in 1960, with a production capacity of 90 tonnes cane per hour.(tchr).

In 1966, CDC bought out the Hulett shareholding and acquired sole ownership. This changed in 1977 when, on March 30th the Ingwenyama acquired, in trust of the Swazi nation, 50 percent of the company’s issued share capital. This was one of Mhlume’s most historic milestones.

Another milestone was the take-over of IYSIS sugar cane growing operations in 1994, involving 3 800 hectares. This saw Mhlume become Swaziland’s second largest grower of sugar cane on a land area of over 9000 hectares.

RSSC today

In 2001, the RSSC shareholders agreed to a merger with the neighbouring Mhlume Sugar Company and the new enlarged RSSC was launched in 2002. Listed on the Swaziland Stock Exchange, RSSC is the largest company in Swaziland employing over 3 500 permanent staff and producing two thirds of the country’s sugar.

It owns and manages over 15,607 hectares of irrigated sugar cane on estate land leased from the Swazi Nation and manages a further 5 018 hectares on behalf of third parties, delivering some 2.3 million tonnes of cane per season to RSSC’s two sugar mills. RSSC also operates a sugar refinery at the Mhlume mill which produces approximately 170 000 tonnes of refined sugar per season, and a 32 million litre capacity ethanol plant which is situated adjacent to the Simunye Mill.

Sugar Packaging

In 2005 Mananga Sugar Packers, a joint venture between RSSC and Tsb Sugar, was established at Mhlume mill to pack and sell sugar within the region. Ethanol In 1995 RSSC completed construction of a distillery adjacent to Simunye mill to process and produce industrial grade ethanol and potable spirit from all the molasses produced by Simunye.

In early 2007 a major expansion project was commissioned to utilize all the molasses from both Mhlume and Simunye. It now produces over 32 million litres per year; most is exported, primarily to the EU and the West African market.

VISION. MISSION AND VALUES

Our vision serves as the framework for our roadmap and guides every aspect of our business by describing what we need to accomplish in order to continue achieving sustainable, quality growth

RSSC’s vision is to be a leading producer and marketer of sugar and renewable energy.

Our values encompass:

Integrity

We conduct ourselves in an honest, fair and open manner in all our dealings. 

Delivery

We meet our targets and deadlines 

Respect

We respect, value and care for each other.