Isuzu Motors South Africa (IMSAf) and the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Seabirds (SANCCOB) have strengthened their partnership with the unveiling a new solar energy system at SANCCOB’s Gqeberha centre. The system will directly support the organisation’s vital conservation work by lowering operational costs, reducing its carbon footprint, and ensuring reliable, off grid power for the round-the-clock care of endangered seabirds.
This milestone builds on previous projects between the two organisations, including the handover of a state-of-the-art home pen in 2024.
“As a company committed to driving sustainability and environmental responsibility, we are proud to strengthen our support for SANCCOB’s vital work in protecting southern Africa’s endangered seabird species. This partnership is also in support of our strategic pillar on conservation.” said Celestin Ndhlovu, Executive Vice-President, Corporate Services at IMSAf. “This investment reflects IMSAf’s broader philosophy of leading to address societal challenges while helping to shape a sustainable future.”
CJ Havemann, Centre Manager at the SANCCOB facility in Gqeberha, added: “Our Gqeberha facility plays a vital role in seabird rehabilitation, conservation, and education in the Eastern Cape. With the generous support from Isuzu Motors South Africa, we have been able to install a sustainable solar power system that enables the centre to operate completely off the grid, enabling us to focus on saving, rehabilitating and reversing the decline of seabirds’ species, especially the critically endangered African Penguin.”
The partnership between IMSAf and SANCCOB began in 2024 with the unveiling of the ISUZU Seabird Sanctuary, home to 43 African penguins and one Cape Gannet. This was followed by a beach clean-up, habitat improvement at the ISUZU Seabird Sanctuary, and volunteer facility upgrades led by IMSAf employees on World Oceans Day in June 2025.
SANCCOB, a non-profit seabird conservation organisation with centres in Table View and Gqeberha, admits approximately 2,500 seabirds annually, including the critically endangered African penguin, Cape cormorant, Bank cormorant, and Cape gannet. Their work includes rescue, rehabilitation and release of seabirds, volunteer and skills training, public education, and scientific research, all aimed at reversing the decline of wild seabird populations in southern Africa.
IMSAf remains committed to driving sustainable impact by actively working to counter the environmental footprint of its operations, improving awareness and education on marine conservation. Through such collaborations, the company aims to provide a meaningful and measurable impact – not only through financial investment, but also through employee engagement and advocacy.
IMSAf Commits to Partnership with SANCCOB to Advance Seabird Conservation and Sustainable Operations.https://t.co/r9WrSCgkme#ArriveAlive @isuzusa @dealerfloor pic.twitter.com/237nwVG1ms
– Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) October 10, 2025
