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Published: Tuesday, 06 January 2026 09:11

Sylvania marked another significant milestone on 20 November 2025, as the Company proudly hosted its annual Long Service Awards at the Rustique Boutique Hotel in Middelburg, South Africa. Now in its fourth year, the event honoured employees whose dedication, resilience and consistent contribution have shaped Sylvania into the respected and successful business it is today.

A total of 27 employees were recognised during the ceremony – 15 team members celebrating 10 years of service and 12 celebrating 15 years. Their achievements highlight a remarkable trend across Sylvania’s operations: following this year’s awards, 36% of the Company’s longstanding workforce — excluding the newly commissioned Thaba Joint Venture — now have more than a decade of service. This statistic stands as a testament not only to employee loyalty, but also to the supportive, stable and purpose-driven environment Sylvania strives to foster.

Opening Reflections and Sincere Gratitude

The ceremony commenced with a welcome address from Alpheus Mothiba, Executive Officer: Human Resources, who expressed heartfelt appreciation on behalf of the Company. He emphasised the significance of celebrating employees in the moment, noting that far too often recognition comes only in retrospect.

Mothiba outlined the programme for the day and guided recipients through the award process, which included commemorative certificates as well as monetary awards. He led attendees in a moment of silence for four colleagues who sadly passed away during the year, which was a moving pause that honoured their contribution and legacy.

Speaking to the unwavering commitment shown across Sylvania’s operations, he reminded recipients that their perseverance had seen the Company through times of uncertainty. “You did not jump ship,” he said. “You stayed the course — and see where we are today. We have turned the corner, and the future looks bright.” He closed by encouraging employees to carry the spirit of excellence forward to future generations, drawing on Aristotle’s reflection that “Excellence is not an act, but a habit.”

Honouring Dedication and the Strength of the Team

Jaco Prinsloo, Chief Executive Officer, delivered the keynote address, commending employees for their exceptional loyalty and the important role they have played in advancing the Company since the introduction of the Long Service Awards in 2022. He noted with pride the impressive number of employees reaching major service milestones this year, reiterating that few companies, in South Africa or globally, could claim such longstanding tenure among such a significant proportion of their workforce.

Prinsloo noted the realities of long service in the mining industry, reminding attendees that those present have collectively contributed between 20,000 and 30,000 working hours over the past 10 to 15 years. “He added that it is essential that you are happy at work with your colleagues, with your leaders, and with your company. Happiness is the key to success, and success cannot be sustained without it.”

He highlighted the remarkable transformation of various Sylvania operations over the past decade, particularly Lannex, which has evolved from a site under considerable pressure into a consistent and profitable performer. He also spoke about the commissioning and early progress of the Thaba Joint Venture, where the right systems, infrastructure and team are in place to support growth as the operation ramps up.

Acknowledging the volatility the PGM sector has faced in recent years, Prinsloo reiterated that Sylvania’s resilience lies in its disciplined approach to maintaining a low-cost, low-risk, cash-generative business model. This strategy has enabled the Company to sustain operations and retain employees even as others in the industry have faced retrenchments and closures.

Reflecting on the year to date, he highlighted the recovery in PGM prices since mid-2025 and the continuation of the strong production momentum established in the 2025 financial year. If trends continue, he noted, the Company is on track for yet another record-setting year. He closed with a familiar Henry Ford quote that has become something of a tradition at the Long Service Awards: “Coming together is the beginning. Staying together is progress. Working together is success.”

Prinsloo also paid special tribute to outgoing CFO Lewanne Carminati, acknowledging her 16 years of service and invaluable role in the Company’s growth.

A Celebration of Consistency, Perseverance and Shared Purpose

The ceremony concluded with closing remarks from Christiaan de Wet, Executive Officer: Operations, who offered a heartfelt tribute to the awardees and acknowledged the families and support networks who have enabled their service over the years.

Christiaan highlighted that strategy alone cannot build a successful company, as it takes people who believe in the vision and show up every day to execute it. “A strategy can look excellent on paper,” he said, “but without people like you who are dedicated and committed to that journey, nothing would be achieved.”

He praised all the award recipients for the loyalty, perseverance, and resilience they have displayed, emphasising that every role, big or small, operational, or administrative, contributes to Sylvania’s collective achievements. He acknowledged the impressive improvements in safety performance, the strong operational results across both East and West operations, and the milestone in the first quarter of FY2026 where all operations qualified for incentive bonusses, an outcome that, he stressed, “does not happen by itself.”

Closing on an inspiring note, he cited American author Peter Drucker: “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” He encouraged employees to continue embodying the values, discipline and commitment that have brought Sylvania to where it is today, as the Company looks forward to many more milestones.