South Africa’s Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development has awarded 300 farm workers a grant for their Bookeveld Employee Trust that will see them become shareholders in a successful business that supplies fruit to UK retailers.
The initiative in the Western Cape has taken 15 months to come to fruition, but will now benefit from a grant of R14 million (£946,000) which means the workers will be able to purchase 40 per cent of the Bokkeveld Pty (Ltd).
The business is made up of six farms in the Worcester and Ceres areas comprising 928 hectares, of which 133ha are planted with top fruit and vines. The project has been described by Andy Paulse, chairperson of the Bokkeveld Employee Trust, as a very positive step in contributing towards land transformation in the new South Africa.
“The project has been about accountability and taking ownership of the production. There has been a huge amount of education,” said Paulse." “You can see by the way they have taken an interest in their work and in the way they handle the produce. They know if they take special care they will get good prices for the fruit. If the business is a success and the input is positive, they will reap the benefits.”
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