PERSVERKLARING: 16 SEPTEMBER 2016 SAGTEVRUGTEBEDRYF VEREER UITBLINKERS SEWE toppresteerders in die Suid-Afrikaanse sagtevrugtebedryf is Vrydagaand by n glansgeleentheid op Somerset-Wes vir hulle uitsonderlike bydrae in dié bedryf vereer. Die toekennings het vanjaar aan: - Charmaine Scholtz, Spesialis Landbouwerker van die Jaar; - Sivuyile Maguga Solitswayi en Irene Jansen, saam vir Algemene Landbouwerker van die Jaar; - Earl Loxton, Toetreder van die Jaar; - Dr. Piet Stassen, Innoveerder van die Jaar; - Jack van Dyk, O.S.H. Reinecke Bedryfsleier van die Jaar; en - Engela Duvenage, Izethelo Media-toekenning gegaan. Twee besondere landbouwerkers in die kategorie Algemene Landbouwerker van die Jaar, is vanjaar vereer. Sivuyile Maguga Solitswayi van die plaas Bronaar in die Koue Bokkeveld, en Irene Jansen van Wilhelm de Kock Boerdery by Worcester. Solitswayi is een van die ware helde van die sagtevrugtebedryf sonder wie geen produsent kan klaarkom nie. Hy is een van die talle algemene landbouwerkers wat dag-in en dag-uit in die warm son vrugte pluk, takke snoei en uitdun. As t ware een van die menslike boordmasjiene. Maar wat Solitswayi laat uittroon bo al die ander landbouwerkers is sy fenomenale produktiwiteitsrekord. Wanneer jy Solitswayi se produktiwiteitsindeks met die gemiddelde werker s n vergelyk, doen hy meer as dubbeld die werk. Hy pluk meer, hy snoei meer, hy dun meer uit. Én hy is akkuraat teen n verstommende spoed n ware boord-ster! Solitswayi het in 2013 op Bronaar begin werk. Volgens sy bestuurder stel Solitswayi hoë doelwitte aan homself en is hy altyd bereid om opdragte uit te voer. Maguga is gemotiveerd en maak seker dat hy sy werk die eerste keer reg doen. Hy is by verre Bronaar se beste en vinnigste plukker. Hy is n aanwins vir ons besigheid en n uitstekende voorbeeld vir sy mede-werkers. Bronaar salueer Maguga vir sy uitstekende diens. Irene Jansen se jong lewe het met heelwat uitdagings begin. As n voormalige inwoner van die Steinthal-kinderhuis by Tulbagh, is sy boonop n enkelouer. Maar teen alle verwagtinge in, is Jansen besig om vir haarself n blink toekoms in die landbou uit te beitel. Jansen se kollegas beskryf haar as n gebore leier en uitstekende voorbeeld vir ander werkers. Irene is by bykans alle plaas-aktiwiteite betrokke, byvoorbeeld die dameskoor, gemengde koor en uitreikgroep. Sy het ook n bordspelgroep vir vroue begin. Daarbenewens hou sy van bak en brou en bederf die ander gereeld met soetgoed. Seisoentyd is Jansen by gehalte-evaluering van vrugte en die manipulering van jong bome betrokke. Die ander werkers leer baie by haar en sy is altyd bereid om vrae te beantwoord en te verduidelik. Landbou is Jansen se passie en sy leef dit elke dag ten volle met n positiewe gesindheid uit.
Charmaine Scholtz, Spesialis-landbouwerker van die Jaar, het ná skool onderwys studeer en op die plaas Remhoogte by Ceres as jeugwerker begin werk. Die vrugtegogga het gebyt en sy het gou besef dat landbou vir haar n groter uitdaging om haarself as mens te ontwikkel, bied. Scholtz is oorgeplaas na die vrugte-afdeling, waar sy as algemene werker begin het een deesdae die plaas se junior menslike hulpbronbestuurder is. Charmaine is die soort mens wat elke geleentheid wat oor haar pad kom met oorgawe aangryp en n sukses daarvan maak. Haar besondere werksetiek en mensekennis maak van haar n staatmaker in ons onderneming, meen Marina du Toit, haar bestuurder. Earl Loxton, Toetreder van die Jaar, is besig om sy merk as suksesvolle kommersiële boer in die Noord-Kaap te maak. Loxton, wat sy landboudiploma by Elsenburg verwerf het, het in 2011 perseel 593 in die Eksteenvlei-gemeenskap buite Keimoes oorgeneem. Die wingerdstokke was oud en verwaarloos, en die perseel was klaarblyklik nie winsgewend nie. Loxton het dadelik met n vernuwingsprogram begin en daar is nou 35 hektaar rosyntjiedruiwe en 7,5 hektaar wyndruiwe. Loxton beplan om nog verder te diversifiseer en ander kultivars in te bring. Die afgelope drie jaar het hy ook deel gevorm van die Droëvrugte Tegniese Dienste se Jobs Fund-ontwikkelingsprogram. Deur hierdie inisiatief het hy n verdere 9,3 hektaar rosyntjiedruiwe aangeplant. Dr. Piet Stassen, Innoveerder van die Jaar, is vereer vir sy bydrae die afgelope 45 jaar. Stassen se werk in verskeie landbou-segmente kan as baanbrekerswerk beskou word. Sy navorsingsprotokolle word internasionaal toegepas. Stassen evalueer tans steenvrugonderstamme vir die sagtevrugtebedryf. Die O.S.H. Reinecke Bedryfsleier-toekenning vir 2016 het aan Jack van Dyk gegaan vir sy baanbrekerswerk in veral arbeidsreg vir die vrugtebedryf. Van Dyk, wat ondermeer n staatsaanklaer en magistraat was voor hy in 1982 in die vrugtebedryf begin werk het, was n stigterslid en jare lange voorsitter van die Kaapse Agri Werkgewers-vereniging (KAW). Hoewel hy reeds afgetree het, is Van Dyk steeds n belangrike rolspeler in die Laborie Dialoog-inisiatief wat aandag gee aan sensitiewe landelike- en arbeidsake. Die vryskut-wetenskapskrywer Engela Duvenage het die Izethelo-toekenning ontvang vir haar bydraes oor die landbouwetenskap. Duvenage het erkenning ontvang vir haar bydraes om die agri-wetenskap meer toeganklik vir die algemene publiek te maak. Dié glansgeleentheid, wat n jaarlikse instelling van die Suid-Afrikaanse sagtevrugtebedryf is, vind al die afgelope 41 jaar plaas. Vir meer inligting, kontak: Esté Beerwinkel op 063 411 2878 of este@hortgro.co.za.
PRESS RELEASE: 16 SEPTEMBER 2016 DECIDUOUS FRUIT INDUSTRY HONOURS LUMINARIES SEVEN top achievers in the South African deciduous fruit industry received awards for their excellence on Friday night at a gala event in Somerset West. The awards went to: - Charmaine Scholtz, Specialist Agricultural Worker of the Year; - Sivuyile Maguga Solitswayi en Irene Jansen, joint General Agricultural Worker of the Year; - Earl Loxton, New Entrant of the Year; - Dr. Piet Stassen, Innovator of the Year; - Jack van Dyk, O.S.H. Reinecke Industry Leader of the Year; and - Engela Duvenage, received the Izethelo Media Award. This year the judges decided to give the General Agricultural Worker of the Year Award to two worthy recipients: Sivuyile Maguga Solitswayi from the farm Bronaar in the Koue Bokkeveld and Irene Jansen from Wilhelm de Kock Boerdery near Worcester. Solitswayi is one of the true heroes of the deciduous fruit industry without whom growers would not be able to manage. He is one of the multitude of general workers who, like human machines, pick fruit, prune trees and thin flowers. What distinguishes Solitswayi from other workers is that his productivity levels are twice that of any other general worker. Not only that, he is accurate and works at a phenomenal pace. Solitswayi joined Bronaar in 2013 and according to his manager he is always motivated and sets high goals for himself. Maguga is motivated and ensures that he does his work right the first time. He is by far Bronaar s best and fastest fruit picker. Maguga is an excellent example for his co-workers and a great asset in our business. Bronaar would like to salute Maguga for his excellent service. In turn, Irene Jansen started her young life with many challenges. She grew up in the Steinthal Orphanage at Tulbagh and is a single parent. But against all odds, Jansen is carving out a bright future for herself in the agricultural sector. Jansen s colleagues describe her as a born leader and an excellent example for her co-workers. Irene is active in almost all the farm programmes such as the women s choir, the mixed choir and an outreach group. She even initiated a board game group for women on the farm. She also loves to bake and regularly arrives at work with sweet treats for everyone. During the season, Jansen is involved in quality control and the manipulation of young orchards. The other workers know that she is always available to answer questions and to mentor them. According to her manager, it is not often that one comes across someone with such a positive attitude. Even though life dealt Irene a tough hand, she gets up every morning and spreads joy wherever she goes. She has a bright career in agriculture ahead of her. Charmaine Scholtz, Specialist Farm Worker of the Year, is a qualified teacher who decided to throw her energy into agriculture. Scholtz, who started her professional life at Remhoogte
near Ceres as a youth worker, was soon bitten by the fruit bug and asked to be moved to the fruit section where she started as a general worker. Today she is the junior human resources manager on the farm. Charmaine is one of those people who grab every opportunity that presents itself. She loves people, has excellent work ethics and is someone we can always rely on in our business, said Marina du Toit, her manager. Earl Loxton, New Entrant of the Year, is busy making his mark as a successful commercial grower in the Northern Cape. In 2011, Loxton, who obtained his diploma in agriculture at Elsenburg, was awarded plot 593 in the Eksteensvlei community outside Keimoes. When Loxton arrived there, the vineyards were old, neglected and in a poor condition. The plot was not profitable and Loxton started a renewal programme. Currently, he has 35 hectares of raisin grapes and 7,5 hectares of wine grapes. Loxton is planning to diversify while he is growing other crops to generate cash. For the past three years, Loxton also formed part of the Dried Fruit Technical Services Jobs Fund development programme. Through this initiative, he planted another 9,3 hectares of raisin grapes. Dr Piet Stassen, Innovator of the Year, was honoured for his contribution as scientist and researcher, spanning the past 45 years. Stassen s work in various agricultural spheres can be described as pioneering and groundbreaking and his research protocols are applied locally as well as internationally. He is currently evaluating rootstocks for the stone fruit industry. The O.S.H. Reinecke Industry Leader Award went to Jack van Dyk, for his outstanding work in labour law in the fruit industry. Van Dyk was a public prosecutor and magistrate before he entered the fruit industry in 1982. He was a founding member and for many years the chairman of the Cape Agri Employers Organisation. Even though he is now retired, Van Dyk still plays an important role in the Laborie Dialogue Initiative which tackles sensitive labour and rural issues. Freelance science writer Engela Duvenage received the Izethelo Award for media excellence. Duvenage was recognized for her contributions in making the agri-science more accessible for the general public. The Deciduous Fruit Gala Event has been held annually for the past 41 years. For more information contact Esté Beerwinkel at este@hortgro.co.za or on 063 411 2878.
IPRESS RELEASE: 16 USEPTEMBA 2016 USHISHINO LWEZIQHAMO LUNIKA ABATSHATSHELEYO IIMBASA ISIXHENXE esitshatsheleyo kushishino lweziqhamo emzantsi Afrika sifumene iimbasa ngemisebenzi yaso emihle ngentlwa yangolwesihlanu kumsitho obu banjelwe e-somerset West. Ezi mbasa ziye ku: - Charmaine Scholtz, umsebenzi wezolimo oyingcaphephe wonyaka; - Sivuyile Maguga Solitswayi no-irene Jansen, bobabini bafumene imbasa yomsebenzi wezolimo Jikelele wonyaka; - Earl Loxton, Imfiki Entsha yonyaka; - Dr Piet Stassen, Umyili wezimvo Ezintsha; - Jack van Dyk, Inkokheli yonyaka kwi-o.s.h. Reinecke Industry; kwaye - Engela Duvenage ufumene Imbasa yezethelo Media. Abagwebi balo nyaka bagqibe ngokunikezela ngembasa yomsebenzi wezolimo Jikelele wonyaka kubantu ababini usivuyile Maguga Solitswayi ophuma kwifama yase-bronaar e-koue Bokkeveld no-irene Jansen ophuma e-wilhem de Kock Boerdery ngase-worcester. USolitswayi lelinye iqhawe ushishino lweziqhamo elingena kukwazi ukusebenza ngaphandle kwalo. Kubasebenzi jikelele abaninzi, nguye ovuna iziqhamo kwaye athene imithi neentyatyambo. Into eyenza ukuba ohluke kwabanye abasebenzi yinto yokuba ukhuthele kakhulu kunabanye abasebenzi bajikelele. Ngaphezulu, yonke into uyenza ngokwasencwadini nangokukhawuleza. USolitswayi wazibandakanya ne-bronaar ngo-2013 kwaye umphathi wakhe uthi soloko ekhuthazekile kwaye uzibekela amanqanaba aphezulu. UMaguga ukhuthazekile kwaye uqinisekisa ukuba umsebenzi uwuchana zisuka. Apha e-bronaar ungoyena mvuni-ziqhamo ungcono kwaye ukhawulezayo. Ungumzekelo omhle koogxa bakhe kwaye ululutho nakushishino lwethu. I-Bronaar ingathanda ukuthi huntshu kumaguga ngenkonzo yakhe entle. Kanti u-jansen waqala ubomi bakhe ngemiceli-mngeni. Ukhulele kwi-steinthal Orphanage e-tulbagh kwaye ungumzali oyedwa. Kodwa ke, kula mathinzi-thinzi obomi ukwazile ukuzenzela ikamva eliqaqambileyo kwezolimo. Oogxa bakhe bathi ubudalelwe ubunkokheli kwaye ungumzekelo omhle kubo. U-Irene ukho kuzo zonke iinkqubo zalapha efama, njengekwayala yoomama, ikwayala exubeneyo nakumaphulo angaphandle. Uye waqala nombutho woomama apha efama. Uyakuthanda ukubhaka kwaye soloko ephathela wonke umntu izinto ezimnandi. U-Jansen uyazibandakanya kwizinto zokuqinisekisa ukuba kuveliswa undoqo. Abanye abasebenzi bayayazi ukuba soloko ekhona ekuphenduleni imibuzo nasekuncedeni. Umphathi wakhe uthi inqabile into yokuba ufumane umntu ofana naye. Nakubeni ubomi bebumphethe kakubi, u-irene uvuka qho kusasa asasaze uvuyo apho ahamba khona. Ulindelwe likhondo lezolimo eliqaqambileyo. Charmaine Scholtz, umsebenzi wezolimo oyingcaphephe wonyaka, yititshala egqibeleleyo eyaqonda ukuba mayizibandakanye nezolimo. U-Scholtz waqala ubomi bakhe bentsebenzo
e-remhoogte ngase-ceres njengomsebenzi ojongene nezolutsha. Kuthe ekuhambeni kwethuba waqonda ukuba uthanda iziqhamo, waphangela ke njengomsebenzi jikelele. Namhlanje, ungumphathi oyidyongwana kwintlalo-ntle yabaqeshwa efama. U-Charmaine ungomnye wabantu abangadlaliyo ngamathuba afikayo. Uyabathanda abantu, uziphethe kakuhle emsebenzini, kwaye ungumntu esinokuthembela ngaye apha kwishishini, utsho u-marina du Toit, umphathi wakhe. U-Earl Loxton, Imfiki Entsha yonyaka, uzixakekisa ngokuba ngumlimi onempumelelo emntla Koloni. Ngo-2011, u-loxton waphumelela i-diploma yakhe yezolimo e-elsenburg, waza wanikwa isiza 593 kwindawo ese-eksteensvlei ngase-keimoes. Ukufika kwakhe khona, amasimi ayenga hoyekanga kwaye yonke into indala. Esi siza sasingenayo imveliso kwaye u-loxton wazama ukusiphucula. Kungoku nje, unehekthare ezingama-35 ze-rantyentysi zediliya kunye neehekthare ezisi-7,5 zediliya yewayini. U-Loxton angathanda ukulima ezinye izinto ukuze azenzele imali. Kule minyaka mithathu idlulileyo, uye wazibandakanya nenkqubo yophuhliso i-dried Fruit Technical Services Jobs Fund. Ngeli phulo, uye watyala ezinye iihekthare ezili-9,3 zerantyentyisi zediliya. U-Dr Piet Stassen, Umyili wezimvo Ezintsha, unikwe iwonga ngenxa yemisebenzi yakhe njengenkcuba-buchopho nomphandi, ekwenza oku kwiminyaka engama-45. Imisebenzi yakhe kwezolimo ithe gqi nezinto ezintsha kwaye iindlela zakhe zokuphanda zisetyenziswa apha ekhaya nakwilizwe liphela. Sithetha nje, uphonononga iingcambu kushishino lweziqhamo ezinepete ngaphakathi, umzekelo, iipesika, njl, njl. IMbasa yobunkokheli kwi-o.s.h. Reinecke Industry iye ku-jack van Dyk, ngenxa yemisebenzi yakhe emihle kwimithetho yomsebenzi kushishino lweziqhamo. Phambi kokuba azibandakanye noshishino lweziqhamo, u-jack van Dyk wayengumtshutshisi nemantyi. Wayengumseki kwaye engusihlalo ixesha elide kumbutho we-cape Agri Employers Organisation. Nakubeni ekumhlalaphantsi, usadlala indima kwi-laborie Dialogue Initiative ethi ijongane nemiba ebuthathaka yasemaphandleni nakwimisebenzi. Umbhali obhala ngezobunzululwazi, u-engela Duvenage ufumene Imbasa yezethelo Media ngemisebenzi yakhe emihle yokunxulumana namajelo eendaba. Uthathelwe ingqalelo ngemisebenzi yakhe yokwenza i-agri-science ikwazi ukufikelela kuluntu jikelele. Ngunyaka wama-41 lo uqhutywa lo msitho we-deciduous Fruit Gala Event. Malunga nezinye iinkcukacha, qhagamshelana no-esté Beerwinkel: este@hortgro.co.za okanye kwa-063 411 2878.