News October 2005
Annual General Meeting (AGM)

The AgriSETA held its first Annual General Meeting at the Farm Inn, Silver Lakes on Thursday, 27th October 2005.

Guest speakers were Mr Mkhulili Mankazana and Dr Sizwe Mkhize, Assistant Director General Sustainable Resources Management of the Department of Agriculture who informed stakeholders of the Agri Black Economic Empowerment.

Two of the learners, Nicoleen Poopedi and Errol Machete, who participated in the Agri Trade Level 2 learnership spoke of their experiences during the learnership. Both Nicoleen and Errol were grateful toward the SETA for giving them the opportunity

The AGM elected a new chairperson Mr Sipho Khumalo from the Food and Allied Workers Union and the newly elected Board members from the Food and Allied Workers Union (FAWU) are, Mzomtsha Jona, Elizabeth Manoto, Zola Nkomo and Pulane Maine,

(Delegates at the AgriSETA AGM)
The current Governing Body therefore has as its members:
Daan Prinsloo Prof Transvaal Agricultural Union of South Africa - Employer
Di Goodwin Ms South African Green Industry Council - Employer
Doda Gwala Mr Food & Allied Workers Union (FAWU) - Employee
Elizabeth Manoto Ms Food & Allied Workers Union (FAWU) - Employee
Gerhard Neethling Dr Red Meat Abattoir Association - Employer
Jack Van Dyk Mr Agri (Western Cape) (Vice Chairperson) - Employer
Jacquie Bhana Ms Tongaat Hulett Sugar - Employer
Johnny Burger Mr Solidarity - Employee
Kammie Strydom Mr Grain South Africa - Employer
Len Hansen Mr Astral Operations Ltd - Employer
Mbu Jolisa Mr Food & General Workers Union (FGWU) - Employee
Mzomtsha Jonas Mr Food & Allied Workers Union (FAWU) - Employee
Otto Mbangula Mr National African Farm Workers Union (NAFU) - Employer
Pulane Maine Ms Food & Allied Workers Union (FAWU) - Employee
Riaan Gerritzen Mr Vrystaat Koöperasie Beperk - Employer
Sipho Khumalo Mr Food & Allied Workers Union (FAWU) (Chairperson) - Employee
Steve Moseki Mr South African Food and Allied Trade Union (SAFATU) - Employee
William Sithole Mr Dingler Swedish Match - Employer
Zacharia Mohanoe Mr National Union of Farm Workers (NUF) - Employee
Zola Nkomo Mr Food & Allied Workers Union (FAWU) - Employee
SUB SECTOR COMMITTEES
The Sub Sector Committee’s (SSC’s) constituted are:

  • SSC Fruit Packaging and Processing (including Wine Coop’s)

  • SSC Tobacco

  • SSC Sugar

  • SSC Fibre Tea and Coffee

  • SSC Grain

  • SSC Milling

  • SSC Pest Control

  • SSC Seed

  • SSC Red Meat

  • SSC Poultry and Egg production

Fruit
Name Representing Party
Charles Whitehead Wine -Coops Employer
Johan Bezuidenhout Fruit Processing (VICE CHAIRPERSON) Employer
Johnny Burger Solidarity (CHAIRPERSON) Employee
Paul Visser Fruit Packers Association Employer
Sandra Jaftha FAWU Employee
Vincent Maleka NUFBWSAW Employee
GRAIN
Name Representing Party
Basie Botma GWK Employer
Chris Els CRK Employer
Geoff Ryding SAFATU Employee
Jannie Van Zyl Boland Agri Employer
Johnny Burger Solidarity (CHAIRPERSON) Employee
Niekie Kruger Senwes Employer
Riaan Gerrtizen VKB (VICE CHAIRPERSON) Employer
VACANT Solidarity Employee
VACANT FAWU Employe
Vincent Malekea NUFBWSAW Employee
Tobacco
Name Representing Party
Amos Msiza SAFATU Employee
Ephraim Mokone FAWU Employee
Jennifer Sathabridge-Naidoo British American Tobacco Employer
Johnny Burger Solidarity Employee
Lynette Bezuidenhout Tobacco SA Employer
Tumi Mahaka Dingler Employer
SUGAR
Name Representing Party
A Mdluli SAAPAWU (FAWU) Employee
Colin Kyle Illovo Sugar Employer
Jacquie Bhana Tongaat Hulett (VICE CHAIRPERSON) Employer
Joe Stephens TSB Employer
Livingstone Nzuza FAWU Natal (CHAIRPERSON) Employee
Mandla S Nsibande NICWU Employee
Scholim Hirschfield UCL Company Employer
Soon Cronje USASA Employee
TSG Nhleko NASARAIEU Employee
VACANT Umvoti/Ushukela Employer
Seed and Pest Control
Name Representing Party
Dave Alcock Entoserv / SA Pest Control Association
(VICE CHAIRPERSON – PEST CONTROL)		 Employer
George Nefdt Pannar (VICE CHAIRPERSON – SEED) Employer
Henk Pottas The Specialist (SA Pest Control Association) Employer
Johnny Burger Solidarity (CHAIRPERSON SEED/PEST CONTROL) Employee
Lorraine Coetzee Mayford Employer
Lorraine Molope Agricultural Research Council (ARC) Employer
Lynette Cokayne SA Pest Control Association (SAPCA) Employer
POULTRY
Name Representing Party
Amon Mohame SACCAWU Employee
Doda Gwala FAWU (CHAIRPERSON) Employee
Francois Le Roux Country Fair Employer
Heather Pether Pioneer Foods Employer
Jacqueline Ambrose Rainbow Chicken Farms Employer
Jacques van Niekerk Early Bird Farm (VICE CHAIRPERSON) Employer
Johnny Burger Solidarity Employee
Les Richards FAWU Employee
VACANT FAWU Employee
Zach Coetzee SA Poultry Association Employer
RED MEAT
Name Representing Party
A Kruger SA Ostrich Business Chamber Employer
Ben Mtshali SAFATU Employee
Dave Ford SA Feedlot Employer
Gerhard Neethling SAMIC Employer
Johnny Burger Solidarity Employee
M Pelser SAMIC Employer
Ricky van der Westhuizen SAMIC Employer
Simon Streicher SA Pork Producers Organisation Employer
VACANT   Employee
VACANT   Employee
Milling
Name Representing Party
Anne-Marie Barnard Grain Milling Employer
Johnny Burger Solidarity Employee
Len Hansen Astral Operations Ltd Employer
Marc de Bruin Pets Products Employer
Thabo Mokhali SAFATU Employee
Tshepo Mokomele Sasko Employer
VACANT Premier Foods Employer
Vincent Maleka NUFBWSAW Employee
Fibre, Tea & Coffee
Name Representing Party
Abel Stoltz SA Cotton Ginners Association Employer
Cathy Gallant SACTWU Employee
Espé Tredoux Rooibos LTD Employer
Helgard de Villiers Sapekoe (VICE CHAIRPERSON) Employer
Henry Smith Chicory SA Employer
Johnny Burger Solidarity (CHAIRPERSON) Employee
Ronel Human BKB Employer
VACANT SACTWU Employee
VACANT FAWU Employee
VACANT NON-UNION Employee
ABET (Adult Basic Education and Training)

FERTILE MINDS AT COUNTRY MUSHROOMS

“I can write my own letters, finally”
“I always dreamt of going back to school to learn to read and write”
“I can make jokes with my supervisor in English and we can laugh together”
“I have never been to school, there was no money for school”
“I never thought that I would be able to learn to write my name”

These are just a few comments from a group of adult learners who are being taught to read and write, some for the first time in their lives. Country Mushrooms in Bapsfontein on the East Rand is growing more than fabulous mushrooms. It is also growing its employees’ minds. The farm implemented an adult literacy course several months ago and 90 of the 150 employees who were assessed for recognition of prior learning are enrolled on it.

Lizette Muller, the HR manager for Country Mushrooms, says, “Our 270 strong workforce largely comprises unskilled labour and we have identified illiteracy as a problem common to most of our employees, many of whom can’t sign their leave forms. We feel a moral obligation to rectify this and have identified Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET) as the first step towards a more skilled workforce. We are implementing the literacy training in stages. We started with 90 employees who were assessed at Basic Oral and Level 1. When these learners move on to Level 2, we will bring in the employees who were assessed at Level 2, and so on.”

The multimedia computer driven approach to ABET developed by Media Works means that learners can work at their own pace and can attend ABET sessions at flexible times, arranged to fit in with their work schedule. It also allows workers to be released individually, instead of requiring that a group of learners be released en mass, which is usually the case with training.

Facilitator Caroline Motloung plays a key role in keeping the learners motivated, says Lizette. “This is the first time that some of our workers have been exposed to a learning environment and some of them find it a bit overwhelming and challenging. However, Caroline does a sterling job of motivating the learners and encouraging them to persevere with the programme when they become demotivated.”

According to Caroline, the fear of failure is a hugely demotivating factor in the adult classroom. She says that not only must the facilitator motivate the learners, but also they need to motivate and encourage one another to ensure the success of such a programme.

“I thought that our workers would be intimidated by the multimedia programme but, surprisingly enough, the use of a computer to teach them to read and write is proving immensely popular,” says Lizette. She adds that the use of the computer-assisted approach helps the facilitator to cope with the number of learners as most of the learning is done in front of the computer, with the facilitator on hand to assist where required.”

Monica Kgoedi says she enjoys sitting in front of the computer, listening to the instructions via headphones and following them on screen. Anna Mokoatedi adds that without the ABET programme, she would probably have lived her entire life without sitting in front of a computer. Maggie Radingoana says that the computer has taught her how to spell.

The difference that this ABET programme has made in the lives of real people is tangible in the Country Mushrooms learning centre. Selinah Lebepe is proud that she can take instructions directly from her manager, without needing an interpreter. Monica is thrilled that she can finally write her own letters and fill in forms. Lizzie Makhanya, the tea lady, is learning to speak English and expresses her joy at being given another opportunity to “go to school”, while Agnes is glad that she can read English properly. Country Mushrooms’ gardener, Sakkie Bofu, is also on the ABET and he has shown his appreciation by planting flowers outside the learning centre.

All of these people, and many more around South Africa, are being given the opportunity to acquire literacy and numeracy skills owing to an initiative by the AgriSeta. The Seta has purchased a national site license from Media Works, giving the Seta the right to use the ABET material countrywide. AgriSeta is providing the Media Works ABET programme to members free of charge and across the board.
For further information on ABET, please contact Fano Luthili on (012) 325 1655 ext 122 or email fano@agriseta.co.za.

Contact:
Physical
AgriSETA House
529 Belvedere Street
Arcadia
0083

Postal
P O Box 26024
Arcadia
0007

Tel: (012) 325 1655
Fax: (012) 325 1624/77
Email: info@agriseta.co.za
Website: www.agriseta.co.za
www.agriseta.co.za
Copyright 2005 - Agriseta , All rights reserved.