South Ocean Electric Wire Company (SOEW), a manufacturer of low-voltage electrical cables and a wholly owned subsidiary of JSE-listed South Ocean Holdings, has received the formal handover of its SA Board for People Practices (SABPP) certification.
SABPP is South Africa’s professional body for human resource management. The certification process involves an independent audit against the national People Practices and Governance Standards. Certification is valid for three years, subject to ongoing compliance and review.
“SOEW’s achievement aligns with its broader focus on quality, safety, environmental responsibility and skills development. The company continues to invest in modern manufacturing, laboratory testing capabilities, and sustainable practices while prioritising local content and employment,” said Andre Smith, CEO of SOEW.
“The certification recognises SOEW’s adherence to national standards for people practices and human resource management and certifies the company’s ongoing investment in professional HR systems, continuous improvement and high standards of workplace practice.”
Dr Kgomotso Mopalami, Head: Professional Solutions and Business at SABPP, described the certification as a significant achievement for SOEW and applauded the company for its commitment.
She noted that the SABPP audit is a developmental exercise that evaluates HR processes against thirteen key elements. For certification, organisations must achieve more than 60% in each element and an overall average above 60%. SOEW performed particularly well in Governance and Compliance, as well as Employee Relationship Management.
Dr Mopalami emphasised the importance of HR adherence to SABPP principles and highlighted that strong people practices can help insulate organisations from economic downturns. She also stressed the broader need for South Africa to ensure governance standards remain aligned with global best practice, noting that government adherence to the King Code 5 (King V) is expected to come into sharper focus from September 2026.
Lyle Markham, COO of SABPP, praised SOEW for voluntarily subjecting itself to an independent HR audit, something many organisations are reluctant to do. He said this demonstrated a clear willingness and commitment to developing both staff and the business as a whole. “We already regard SOEW as a world leader in this regard,” Markham stated.
Smith reaffirmed SOEW’s intention to continue its journey with SABPP through ongoing audits and continuous improvement. “It’s a journey. We want this accreditation to make SOEW stand out as a world-class supplier capable of competing in international markets. In doing so, we are developing talent from within. We have an internal culture of learning,” he said.
Smith also highlighted a pressing challenge facing the local cable manufacturing industry: the dumping of inferior cable products into South Africa by overseas companies that have little or no intention of meeting local compliance requirements or subjecting themselves to HR audits that certify employment conditions.
“Products are being dumped into the market at prices sometimes 15% below our production costs. Adherence to South African compliance standards is rightly regarded as important and crucial, yet these companies are allowed to operate with no recourse. This practice is destroying local manufacturing and, most importantly, jobs,” he said.
“This certification underscores our commitment to excellence not only in the products we manufacture, but in the people practices that underpin our organisation. Professional standards in HR and people management are essential to building a sustainable, high-performing business that contributes to South Africa’s industrial base,” Smith concluded.
About South Ocean Electric Wire Company (Pty) Ltd. SOEW is a proudly South African manufacturer and distributor of low-voltage electrical wire, cable, and related products. A subsidiary of JSE-listed South Ocean Holdings Limited, the company has more than three decades of experience serving the building, construction, mining, industrial, and retail sectors. For more information, visit www.soew.co.za.
