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 A
new season is bringing a fresh dawn for workers on a large Northern
Cape export table grape farm after a landmark agreement to make them
shareholders.
A partnership between Peu Bezuidenhout of Naftali / Monte Estate and
his workers will mean that 65 workers now own 25% of the newly established
Rekopane Estate which incorporates all the assets and activities of
the farm which was known until recently as Naftali/Monte Estate.
The historic partnership is the latest land transformation project
backed by the Department of Land Affairs through its land reform funds.
The new partnership, which also has financial backing from Standard
Bank in the form of a loan, was celebrated at Rekopane Estates last
week.
The worker shareholders are all members of the newly formed Loretlhabetse
Trust. The word Loretlhabetse is Tswana for "the sun has risen
for us".
Rekopane means "we have come together".
Located on the banks of the Orange River near Kanoneiland, west of
Upington, Naftali/Monte Estate, and its owners, the Bezuidenhout family,
have become among South Africa's best known seedless grape growers.
Peu Bezuidenthout and his workers built Naftali/Monte Estate from six
hectares in 1979 to 528ha now.
Of this, 212ha are planted with table grapes, the produce of which
is exported to markets around the world.
Obed Mvula, chief director of Land Affairs, said 65 permanent farm
workers from Natalie/Monte Estate expressed their wish to become shareholders
in the business.
They approached the Northern Cape Provincial Land Reform Office and
it was decided to support this under the Farm Worker Equity Share Scheme.
The project was done under the Land Redistribution Programme for Agricultural
Development as a Farm Worker Equity Scheme project on privately owned
property.
The department contributed R6.5 million towards the workers' shareholding.
Bezuidenhout said the partnership created real ownership for people
who had played an important part in the development of the farm.
Expansion of Rekopane Estates will see another 68ha of new table grape
varieties and 60ha of citrus fruit being planted.
The new orchards and vineyards will be developed over the next three
years.
Capespan Foundation chief executive Nazzeem Sterrar said its grant
for training and development at Rekopane over the next three years would
amount to R500 000.
Support for Rekopane's people would be focused on skills development
and technical training where it was required, he said.
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Newsletter:
3 February 2012 to 10 February 2012 - Krugersdorp, Gauteng, South Africa
