The community of Atlantis has made significant improvements due to the Hisense manufacturing plant in the area. Atlantis is an area that faces issues such as gang violence and high unemployment, but the factory has created many opportunities for the community.
In the mid-1980’s Atlantis was home to several industrialists who employed large numbers of locals from the area. As incentives declined over the years, companies withdrew their business from the area, causing dire effects on people’s lives.
The technology giant, Hisense, has done its part to mitigate these effects with its factory. Marlon Jacobs, Team Leader in the refrigeration department says that the company employs over 700 members of the Atlantis community.
In a tweet on March 9, Hisense South Africa said, “Hisense is committed to local manufacturing and the upliftment of the Atlantis community. We are striving to continue to invest in South Africa for many years to come.”
Jerry Lui, President of Hisense Middle East-Africa, said that the factory is it’s most efficient one outside of China.
The company aims to transfer skills from specialists to employees in Atlantis and they hope to build them up to be experts themselves. Jacobs said that he has definitely grown at the factory.
Another goal they have is to close the cultural divide by ensuring that employees are continually learning from each other.
Picture: Facebook / Hisense – Atlantis