After months of criss-crossing the province, looking for the Western Cape’s best agri-workers, all 16 regional winners have now been chosen. The competition, sponsored by Shoprite since 2012, aims to recognise the hard work and dedication of the province’s agricultural workforce.
The last seven awards were announced in a series of prize ceremonies held across the province over the past few weeks.
Mrs Gertrude Jacobs (Acting Director: FWD: WCDoA) - Mr Justin Jooste (EGVV Regional Winner) – Mr Chris Schutte (Freshmark/Shoprite)
These seven include:
-Piket Bo Berg regional winner Marthinus Swarts, the irrigation manager at Heldervue Estates.
-Durbanville winner Tawfeeq Brinkhus, who works in animal production at Chamomile farming.
-Stellenbosch winner Joseph Muller who is the production manager at Meerlust farm.
-In the Central Karoo, Johannes Bezuidenhout, a manager at Rondawel farm won the regional award
-Berg River regional winner Jerome Samson, a sprayer operator at Irene farm.
-Franschhoek winner, Christie Davids from Anthonij Rupert farms.
-And junior manager at Bellevue farm, Jan Maritz who won in the Breede River region.
Minister of Economic Opportunities, Alan Winde congratulated the regional winners on their awards saying: “Every year we are blown away by the calibre of the agri-workers who enter this competition. We wish all the regional winners well as they go on to compete in the national competition and thank all of our province’s agri-workers for their hard work in this sector. The agricultural sector has been impacted hard by the drought over the past year, but the commitment and hard work of the entire agricultural sector and all our agri-workers needs to be acknowledged.”
These seven winners will join the other nine earlier announced winners in competing for the provincial title of Prestige Agri-Worker of the Year.
Winners of the regional awards receive a cash prize, a certificate, trophy and Shoprite vouchers. They will also go on to compete at provincial level during an adjudication process in October 2018, with the awards to be held in November 2018, where the overall winner - the Western Cape Prestige Agri Worker for 2018 - will be announced.
Mrs Gertrude Jacobs (Acting Director: FWD: WCDoA) - Mr Manuel Mackensie (Witzenberg Regional Winner) – Mr Chris Schutte (Freshmark/Shoprite)
The overall winner walks away with a R25 000 cash prize, an overseas trip valued at R60 000, an iPad, Shoprite vouchers, data and a place on the Prestige Agri Worker Forum which meets with Minister Winde each quarter to discuss agri worker as well as sector related issues. This winner will be announced at an awards ceremony to be held in November.
The full list of winners:
Swartland: Isak Bartman, foreman at Kloovenburg
Overberg: Alfred Dyantyi a foreman Frankenhof farm
Langeberg: Odile Adams, HR administrator at Graham Beck Wines
Garden Route: Isaac Ntoto, technical manager at Professional Horticultural Consulting
Olifantsrivier: Brendon McKenna, production manager at Radyn farm
Hex Valley: Petrus Adolf, middle management at Nirvana
Klein Karoo: Andrew Jafta a general worker at Le Mirage
EGVV: Justin Jooste, a middle manager at Moreson Trust Farm
Witzenberg: Manuel Mackensie, a pest control operator from Donkerbos farm, Citrusdal
Piket Bo Berg: Marthinus Swarts, the irrigation manager at Heldervue Estates.
Durbanville: Tawfeeq Brinkhus, who works in animal production at Chamomile farming.
Stellenbosch: Joseph Muller production manager at Meerlust farm.
Central Karoo: Johannes Bezuidenhout, a manager at Rondawel farm
Berg River: Jerome Samson, a sprayer operator at Irene farm.
Franschhoek: Christie Davids from Anthonij Rupert farms.
Breede River: Junior manager at Bellevue farm, Jan Maritz
Ms Tania van der Merwe (Freshmark/Shoprite) - Mr Petrus Adolf (Hex Valley Regional Winner) – Mrs Gertrude Jacobs (Acting Director: FWD: WCDoA)
For more information;
Bianca Capazorio
Tel: +27 21 483 3550
Cell: +27 72 372 7044
Email: bianca.capazorio@westerncape.gov.za