Liona Annelice Fortuin

Growing up in Oudtshoorn, Liona had to assume a sense of responsibility from a very young age. Her mother fell ill when Liona was still at school, resulting in her stepping up to take care of the house and her siblings.

After her mother sadly passed away, Liona moved to Cape Town to find employment opportunities but found herself struggling to find a job. She eventually found herself in Atlantis, soon welcomed into Khanyisile Fishing (KF) with open arms. She is one of the 100+ women who make the magic happen within the factory, and it has been nine years since she started as a general worker. Over the years, she continued to impress her superiors, and she is now a respected senior member of staff.

“I enjoy myself and the work that I do. I’m one of the fastest packers, and I’m also good at doing the books,” she says with a smile.

“I’m proud of the women I work with. We work as a team inside the factory. We get the job done,” she adds.

Liona has never been one to shy away from hard work and speaks about how her mother always taught her the value of putting in the effort to earn her own money. She says that it’s a privilege for her to be able to provide for her family. Liona lives with her boyfriend and her two children – a son who is turning 13 and will be starting high school next year and a daughter who has recently turned six.

“My kids are very proud of me. They follow my example and also work hard,” Liona gushes.

When asked what she thinks would happen if Khanyisile Fishing wasn’t around, Liona insists that it would have a massive negative effect on the Atlantis community, especially considering that the factory is one of the primary providers of employment opportunities in the area.

“If the KF factory weren’t around, there would be a lot of people unemployed in Atlantis. The factory helps put food on the table for many members of the community.”

She hopes to encourage other residents to step up and embrace the opportunities on offer at KF, explaining how it’s possible to work one’s way up the ladder and earn a steady living.

“How much you earn is up to you! It’s up to you what you do inside the factory. You can work your way up,” she concludes.