At a manufacturing plant in Atlantis, just outside Cape Town, some remarkable career journeys are taking shape. As Hisense celebrates 30 years in South Africa, we’re looking beyond the production figures to the people whose lives have changed along the way.
When we think of Cape Town’s economy, tourism, restaurants and the city’s creative industries often come to mind.
But head towards Atlantis, and you’ll find another side of the Mother City’s story. One built around manufacturing, skills development and the people who keep the production lines moving.
At the Hisense manufacturing facility, employees who started in entry-level positions have worked their way into specialised technical and leadership roles.
And as the electronics manufacturer celebrates 30 years in South Africa this October, those individual journeys deserve some attention.
From starting a job to building a career
Take Hugh Stephens, for example.
He joined Hisense in 2013, working on the production line. Today, he is a mainboard repair technician, having developed his skills and progressed within the company.
Then there’s Marlon Jacob, who started as a general worker without a background in refrigeration. He has since worked his way up to become a team leader in the refrigeration department.
Ayrton Minnies has a similar story, having moved from the factory floor into a process technician team leader position.
These aren’t overnight success stories. They’re examples of what can happen when people are given opportunities to learn and grow within their workplaces.
And in a country where finding employment is often difficult enough, the opportunity to build an actual career matters.
More than a million reasons Atlantis matters
Hisense established its South African operation in 1996 and opened its R350 million manufacturing facility in Atlantis in 2013.
The factory now directly employs more than 1,000 South Africans, many from Atlantis and neighbouring communities including Melkbosstrand and Mamre.
Its production capacity is impressive too, with the facility capable of producing up to one million televisions and 500,000 refrigerators annually.
By mid-2024, approximately 4.5 million televisions and 2.9 million refrigerators had been manufactured at the plant.
South African-made refrigerators have also been exported to Europe, adding another dimension to the factory’s role in the local economy.
But perhaps the more interesting story is what happens behind those numbers.
Learning on the job, growing in the industry
According to Luna Nortje, Deputy General Manager at Hisense South Africa, skills transfer has been part of the Atlantis operation since its early days.
The first group of approximately 300 local employees received training from Chinese engineers when the factory opened.
Today, the company continues to pair Chinese engineers and technicians with South African staff, with the aim of developing local expertise and enabling employees to manage departments independently.
That commitment to training also extends to young people looking for their first opportunity in the industry.
In September 2025, Hisense launched a fully funded, year-long learnership programme for 100 unemployed South Africans aged between 18 and 28.
The first group graduated in September 2026, and a further 120 learners have begun the next intake.
For young people hoping to enter the manufacturing industry, programmes like these can offer practical experience and a potential route into employment.
The people behind Cape Town’s industries
Cape Town’s economic story is about more than its most photographed attractions.
It’s also about the communities where businesses operate, the skills being developed and the workers who are building futures for themselves and their families.
Atlantis has long been part of the Western Cape’s industrial landscape, and stories like these highlight why manufacturing continues to matter.
Of course, one company’s achievements don’t solve South Africa’s broader employment challenges.
But they do offer examples of the value of creating opportunities that extend beyond an initial job offer.
Because behind every television and refrigerator produced in Atlantis is a workforce with its own ambitions, experiences and success stories.
And those are the stories worth putting in focus.
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