NWK, the oldest agribusiness in South Africa, was able to allocate more than R4 million during the 2023/24 financial year to the improvement of the lives of communities in its operating area.
Johan Bezuidenhout, group manager of corporate marketing and communication at NWK, says the funds were invested with enormous appreciation for the communities in which the company operates.
“No company functions in isolation, and our company needs the communities in which it operates to thrive in order to be successful itself,” he says.
According to Bezuidenhout, service delivery in the rural areas of North West is deteriorating at an alarming rate, and many of the municipalities are unable to fulfil their mandates in this regard.
The high rate of unemployment leaves many households in the province without sufficient funds to properly care for their children, with education often falling by the wayside.
“We are well aware that these children form the future workforce of the company and therefore greatly invest in their education. The saying ‘charity begins at home’ rings true in this instance.
“As South Africa’s oldest agricultural company, we’ve made it our mission to play a positive role in the community. We have several projects and outreaches in place that aim to address poverty on many levels,” says Bezuidenhout.
“This includes the sponsoring of shopping vouchers for jobless volunteers who help clean up the town before the company hosts its annual golf day, during which hundreds of thousands of rands are raised for deserving non-profit organisations.
“NWK has also taken it upon itself to help repair deteriorating infrastructure where it can. This is done to improve the quality of life of not only our customers but our staff members, too, whom we value tremendously. Together, we can make a difference,” he explains.
IKATELENG PROJECT
This story is from the Farmer's Weekly 27 December 2024 edition of Farmer's Weekly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the Farmer's Weekly 27 December 2024 edition of Farmer's Weekly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
New farmers' seedling pitfalls
Inexperienced farmers may be tempted to grow seedlings from seed themselves, but they have much to gain by trusting a seedling grower at a nursery to perform this task for them instead
South African avocado production: a success story
Avocado production in South Africa has expanded markedly since the industry's humble beginnings over 80 years ago. From a small grove planted in 1938 in what was then Nelspruit, the industry has blossomed to seven million trees planted on 20 000ha. Dr Guy Witney, project manager at Great Brak Avos, spoke to Annelie Coleman about the country's avocado production.
Unlocking value through livestock exports
Exporting livestock might sound like a daunting business that's better left for big companies, but Gerrie Ferreira, who farms near Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape, has been doing it successfully for almost 30 years, sometimes in partnership with other breeders. He spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the huge potential this market holds, and offers some advice for farmers who are contemplating going this route.
An agribusiness's dedication to community upliftment
For agribusiness NWK, located in Lichtenburg, North West, corporate social investment is an important part of creating a positive influence alongside financial returns. Johan Bezuidenhout, NWK’s group manager of corporate marketing and communication, spoke to Annelie Coleman about why the company chooses to invest millions of rands in the area it operates in every year.
Empowering dreams, transforming lives
Since its launch in 2013, the Agri's Got Talent competition has revolutionised the lives of many farmworkers by unlocking their hidden talents and fostering a culture of empowerment. Glenneis Kriel spoke to various finalists about how the contest has changed their lives.
Foreign investment: agriculture maintains its appeal
South Africa remains a popular destination for foreign investors, despite an often negative outlook from its citizens. It is a gateway to Africa, and with its counterseasonal production to the Northern Hemisphere and favourable weather, local agriculture is especially well placed to attract foreign interest, bringing with it hope for rural communities
The real value and message of COP29 for SA agriculture
While the 2024 Conference of the Parties may have disappointed those who hoped for real progress, it's more important for South African agriculture to highlight its role in carbon mitigation
Improving efficiencies in feed and grain milling
Bühler, a Swiss-based company that provides solutions and equipment for various industries, including food and animal feed processing, has pledged that by 2025, it will deliver scalable solutions that will reduce energy, waste and water by 50% in the value chains of its customers.
Tips for better olive production
At an SA Olive Association field day in November, industry experts shared ways to improve olive production efficiencies, from soil preparation to harvesting.
More effort needed to protect vulnerable cheetah
On International Cheetah Day, commemorated every year on 4 December, emphasis was placed on the vulnerability of the species.
