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Launch of world-class platform for vineyard training and research

Stellenbosch University and Vinpro have just launched a world-class platform for vineyard training and research at the Welgevallen experimental farm in Stellenbosch.

“The Welgevallen Training and Research Vineyards, established in collaboration with SU’s Department of Viticulture and Oenology, will not only offer students and researchers of the university access to an exceptional training and research facility, but is also a great platform for knowledge transfer to the broader wine industry,” said Prof Danie Brink, dean of SU’s Faculty of AgriSciences, during the official launch in Stellenbosch today.

SU’s Faculty of AgriSciences funds the project and has appointed the wine industry body Vinpro to implement it over the next three years as part of the organisation’s Gen-Z vineyard project, which aims to promote knowledge transfer in the South African wine industry by practical demonstrations and vineyard trials.

Six purpose-driven vineyard blocks                                                          

Nearly 4.5 ha of SU’s former training vineyards were uprooted in 2019 and replaced in 2020 with six diverse vineyard blocks, which focus on winemaking, trellis systems, traditional and new wine grape varieties, clones and rootstocks, irrigation, pruning systems and table and dried grape cultivation.

The winemaking block consists of 19 red and white wine grape cultivars essential to undergraduate grape and wine sciences students’ curriculum for winemaking purposes. In the trellis system block, one grape variety, namely Chenin Blanc, is trained on 19 different trellis systems and cultivated as bush vines to demonstrate the respective trellis systems and the effect of vine spacing on root distribution.

A vineyard block dedicated to irrigation management has been meticulously designed by the project and research team at the Department of Viticulture and Oenology, specifically with a view to perform extensive water management research. The wine industry body Winetech will fund the project going forward. The cultivar block, which consists of more than 80 grape varieties, displays the diverse characteristics of different cultivars, clone variations and rootstocks.

Another vineyard block demonstrates 10 diverse pruning systems, including the Guyot, shortbearing, Cazenave, box, mechanised, and Italian Simonit & Sirch pruning systems. Finally, the table and dried grape vineyard block is the first of its kind on this site and consists of more than 20 table and dry grape varieties that are trained on six different trellis systems.

“The new training and research vineyards, designed in consultation with the Department of Viticulture and Oenology’s lecturers, expose students to as many vineyard management practices as possible and offer excellent research opportunities,” says Talitha Venter, lecturer at the Department of Viticulture and Oenology who oversees the project with the Gen-Z team. “Current students experience all the processes associated with vineyard establishment first-hand, while future generations will benefit from well-planned, well-developed vineyards in which they will gain valuable practical experience.”

The vineyards will also be used in the future for training and knowledge transfer to producers and vineyard workers, and will give input suppliers with the opportunity to evaluate and demonstrate new technology or products at this site.

New forward-thinking phase

“The establishment of this world-class site for vineyard training and research resulted from the centenary celebrations of SU and the Faculty of AgriSciences in 2019, and symbolises the transition into the next phase of renewal, innovation, technology and knowledge transfer,” says Prof Brink.

“Stellenbosch University will only be able to continue to exist as a world-class institution through partnerships. By joining hands with our wine industry partners – Vinpro, Winetech and their network of experts – we have managed to cross the bridge between academics and the private sector, while at the same time providing a platform for innovation and creative learning. We are also building our intellectual capital and challenging the next generation of students and researchers to seize opportunities such as this site to make a meaningful difference in the industry going forward.”

“For the South African wine industry to remain globally competitive, we must continuously innovate and equip our people with the right skills. That is why it is crucial for the industry and academic institutions to collaborate,” says Vinpro CEO Rico Basson. “The partnership between the wine industry and SU goes back more than 100 years, and we are therefore excited to be part of this milestone that serves as a building block for innovation and talent development for generations to come.”

“The Gen Z vineyard project aims to establish demo sites across the wine industry, and the technology transfer that flows from this will add significant value to the wine industry in the long term,” says Francois Viljoen, manager of Vinpro’s Gen Z project. “Our involvement as project leaders in establishing these purpose-driven vineyard blocks at Welgevallen was therefore a natural next step to showcase the latest technology, vineyard practices and plant material to students and researchers from the various academic institutions, but also the wider wine industry – including wine grape producers, viticulturists, winemakers and vineyard workers – thereby taking our combined expertise to the next level.”

“This project would not be possible without valuable support from the industry in terms of the donation of plant material, poles, wire, irrigation material, and more, as well as their expertise and time. We thank everyone for their contribution and would like to encourage any other interested parties to get involved,” says Francois.

In addition to the training and research vineyards, 16 ha of vineyards will be established for commercial purposes over the next three years, the planting of which will kick off later this year.

BKCOB publishes fourth CSI Handbook for use by business

East London, South Africa

The Border-Kei Chamber of Business (BKCOB) have published the fourth edition of the Corporate Social Investment (CSI) booklet, an initiative which aims to bridge the gap between the beneficiaries, business and other constituents of the Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) sector.

The 2021 edition of the CSI booklet consists of 30 registered NGOs, which have been vetted for credibility by the BKCOB’s CSI Task team, a subcommittee of the Employment Relations Forum.

In its inception in 2014, the CSI booklet was produced in partnership with the Eastern Cape NGO Coalition, and has since been done purely within the Chamber, under the guidance of the CSI Task Team. The initiative was started with the aim of providing the private sector with a comprehensive document through which they can find credible organisations to support in their CSI initiatives.

Seven years later, the booklet still remains a vital source of information for any business / organisation seeking to support a local NGO.

With Covid-19 hitting the entire continent last year, the effects have been dire for both the public and the private sector, leading to huge cuts in funding, even for CSI spend. Consequently, many NGOs have had to either limit their operations, or close down altogether. The ultimate impact of this is that the main beneficiaries of CSI which include children, learners, and the elderly from disadvantaged communities, are left destitute.

In a province where over 50% of the population are dependent on social grants to survive, NGOs play an impeccable role in supplementing what income those households get, if any. This is why the BKCOB felt the need to update and make the CSI booklet available for business in order for the NGOs to have access to any form of funding which may be available.

The updated version of the Booklet is accessible digitally on the BKCOB website under useful links. Alternatively, you can go directly to www.bkcob.co.za/csi-guide/ to access the booklet.

Businesses are encouraged by the Chamber to make use of this resource, and to continue ploughing back to the community, as the wellbeing of society translates into the success of businesses themselves.

For further information on getting involved with the CSI projects of the Chamber, send an email to communications@bkcob.co.za.

Take a virtual tour of the Richards Bay IDZ Special Economic Zone

The Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone Company SOC Ltd (RBIDZ) is a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) that is purpose-built; a secure industrial estate with award-winning industrial infrastructure on the north-eastern coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Linked to the international deep-water port of Richards Bay, this SEZ is tailored for the manufacturing of goods and production of services to boost beneficiation, investment, economic growth and the development of skills and employment.

Discover the RBIDZ Special Economic Zone

Take a glimpse into the world of the RBIDZ, a Gateway to World Markets!

Click here to take a virtual tour

The RBIDZ is a Special Economic Zone that aims to encourage international competitiveness through world-class infrastructure as well as tax-, VAT- and duty-free incentives to qualifying investors.

Learn more about the RBIDZ Special Economic Zone

The Process Redesign programme brought to you by the UFS Business School

It is a fascinating time and place in history. Disruptive change is so common that it is become a corporate buzzword. Apart from innovative technology, the events of 2020 continue to shake every industry, worldwide.

No business is safe today, no matter how successful or dominant it has been in the past. In all chambers of business, we’ve heard vague references to “the new normal.” And this term separates leaders into two categories: There are those who are waiting to see what the new normal is. And those who will shape it.

We see leaders who long for the way things were. In their search for predictability, they look to the past, a familiar time where current knowledge and conventions worked. Their processes are designed to protect the status quo.

At the same time, there are businesses who cannot wait for their time to shine. They are aligning their strategies and processes to capture new and existing markets. Primed to give customers something new or better, they are poised to disrupt.

There is subtlety to this that managers and executives miss. Change is not necessarily disruptive or even profitable. Businesses make many, incremental changes to processes. Most adaptations are minor and have negligible impact. The disruption depends on how customers react.

So, if the client is not the focal point or inspiration for change, then who is – and why does it matter? And that brings us to this programme, where the point of departure is customer-centric process redesign, in a time that demands requires rapid innovation and adaptation.

Who is this programme for, and what types of processes stand to benefit?        

Our definition of a process is any work that is co-ordinated, recurrent. It’s the activity that contributes to cost, value or service quality.

And that means, this programme is applicable across all disciplines, including engineering, finance, operations, marketing HR, sales, supply chain, logistics and business analysis. It’s particularly relevant for middle and senior managers.

Let’s look at the theoretical framework:

The curriculum is based research into best practices and ideas from multiple fields of management and operations. It combines battle-hardened tools and methods that lead to measurable, radical change in performance. It is rooted in systems theory and sound principles of customer-centric design.

On to the methodology:

You can look forward to a practical, hands-on experience. The learning journey is designed to generate an immediate return on investment for your organisation.

How do we achieve this? 

You will apply the theory to processes that you are familiar with, in their own workplace. You will learn how to analyse existing processes, then, use the tools and methods learned to redesign them.

The result is a process that is adapted and responsive to customer needs. The cost-savings and value added, generate the return on investment. This methodology has been successfully applied across all organisational types.

The process redesign programme provides the tools to change performance radically and create new sources of competitive advantage. We invite you to the most of incredible opportunity to improve the world around you and to be worth more!

Contact:
Ansie Barnard at the UFS Business School:
barnardam@ufs.ac.za
082 900 1080

 

Kruger Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism

Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit. Pic: Wikipedia

As the official representative body of business and tourism in the Kruger Lowveld (Ehlanzeni District), our main mandates are to promote the region as a tourism and investment destination, to provide a diverse suite of networking and marketing opportunities for our members, and to represent and speak on behalf of the business and tourism community of our area.

We do this by building and maintaining meaningful relationships with all spheres of government as well as like-minded organisations, and by acting as liaison between these entities and the business community.

Area of operation

The Kruger Lowveld covers the Ehlanzeni District of Mpumalanga, including the following local municipalities: City of Mbombela, Thaba Chweu, Nkomazi and Bushbuckridge, as well as the southern part of Kruger National Park and the surrounding private nature reserves.

Member benefits

Listing on website, Pay-to-Play participation in various marketing services and projects, weekly newsletter, invitations to all KLCBT events, advocacy and representations made by KLCBT on behalf of members, access to preferential arrangements negotiated by KLCBT with service providers, brochure display at Crossing Centre office, various sponsorship options, access to tender information.

We are actively involved in the following advocacy campaigns:
  • Service delivery: Public participation in various forums where government engages with stakeholders regarding budgets, planning and legislation. Promote home-grown businesses through education processes, research, maintaining a database, lobbying for stricter regulations on large shopping chains, engaging large chains to buy local and to spend their CSI budgets locally.
  • Local Economic Development: We are assisting with incubation in seven main corridors, mainly adding additional tourism products.
  • Anti-corruption: Several successful initiatives reduced roadside corruption.
  • Water: Bulk-water supply faces a future crisis and lobbying for the increase of storage capacity is beginning to show success.
  • Roads and public attractions: Require upgrades and investment.
  • Safety and security: A concern for all regions in SA.

Contact details:

Tel: +27 13 755 1988. Fax: +27 13 753 2986
Email: business@klcbt.co.za and tourism@klcbt.co.za
Website: www.klcbt.co.za

Physical address: KLCBT House, Crossing Centre, Nelspruit
Postal address: Private Bag X 11326, Nelspruit 1200

Limpopo United Business Forum

Limpopo United Business Forum (LUBF) is an overarching organisation comprising 10 business and professional organisations in Limpopo. LUBF represents a united voice that advocates and lobbies for the interests and aspirations of business people in Limpopo.

Members

NAFCOC, Black Management Forum (BMF), Businesswomen’s Association (BWA), Progressive Professionals Forum (PPF), South African Women in Construction (SAWIC), Seshego Business Quorum, Forum of Limpopo Entrepreneurs (FOLE), Small Business Empowerment Unity (SBEU), Limpopo ICT Forum and the African Farmers’ Association of SA.

Objective

To collaborate and partner with public and private organisations in promoting and advancing the interests of members. LUBF further forms part of the social compact comprising business, government and civil society in order to grow the economy of Limpopo, contribute to the creation of jobs, reduce inequality and eradicate poverty.

Programme of action

Address challenges that affect small businesses. These include access to information, access to finance, access to markets and access to skills development and training. Late payments by government departments are a threat to the survival of small businesses. LUBF is lobbying the Provincial Treasury and the Limpopo Economic Development, Environment and Tourism Department (LEDET) to deal decisively with departments that continuously disadvantage small businesses. LUBF is looking forward to the Public Procurement Bill which will create a better legislative framework for local empowerment.

In responding to the challenges that are currently facing SMMEs, LUBF has in the past two months engaged with the Minister of Small Business Development, Khumbudzo Ntshaveni, MEC for LEDET, Thabo Mokoni, CEO for Musina-Makhado SEZ, Lehlo-gonolo Masoga, and the MEC for Public Works, Dickson Masemola in his capacity as the Chairperson of the Economic Transformation Unit of the ANC in Limpopo.

Survival and opportunity
  • Businesses are struggling due to the stagnant economy, a situation that has now been exacerbated by the unprecedented pandemic. Limpopo has lower than average household income and low ICT connectivity. Small businesses have to continue creating jobs to save the economy.
  • LUBF has intensified its programme of action and has recently engaged many relevant stakeholders. The objective is to assist SMMEs to gain access to Covid-19 relief programmes and access business opportunities.
  • Intervention is vital for the survival of businesses but it is also true that the new economy presents opportunities for small businesses to create new jobs and maintain current ones.
  • LUBF’s role is therefore to ensure access to available programmes and assist entrepreneurs to take their space in the new normal of digitisation, innovation and manufacturing.
  • The leadership remain committed to uniting the voice of business.

Contact details:

Address: 1st Flr, Terminal Bldg, Polokwane Airport, Gateway Drive, Polokwane
Tel: +27 15 296 0654

Boosting manufacturing is a major priority for Limpopo

Westfalia fruit warehouse. Credit: Westfalia

Getting more value for the minerals and agricultural crops that are extracted from the soil of Limpopo is a major goal of economic planners. A key component of the strategy to boost the value of the region’s products through manufacturing is to develop Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and industrial parks.

Described as “major catalytic projects”, the Musina-Makhado SEZ (approved and forging ahead), the Tubatse SEZ (proposed) and several industrial parks (either being revived or established) are central to the strategy to grow Limpopo’s manufacturing capacity.

As of February 2020, Shaanxi CEI Investment Holdings had committed to a $5-billion investment in a vanadium and titanium smelter project at the Musina-Makhado SEZ (MMSEZ) and a further $1.1-billion had been pledged from other sources.

The focus of the first phase of the SEZ is on energy and metallurgical processes but agri-processing, logistics and general manufacturing are expected to follow in short order. An investment conference targeting the northern side of the SEZ was held in November 2019 and a South African company has announced it will manufacture products in the electric vehicle field, new energy solar system products, energy storage systems and high-density polyethylene water pipes.

Most of the planning for both sections of the SEZ is complete and the Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) are nearly finished. Projections for employment opportunities at the MMSEZ have been revised upwards to 26 000.

Plans for the proposed Tubatse SEZ have been amended and were to be submitted to national government in the course of 2020 (at time of the original article publication – read more). The SEZ in Tubatse will focus on the beneficiation of platinum group metals (PGM) and mining-related manufacturing. Phase one of the project would see a 280 ha site developed to accommodate a mining suppliers park, light manufacturing, heavy manufacturing, logistics, a solar energy cluster and a PGM beneficiation cluster.

A good example of an attempt to derive greater benefit from an agricultural product is the plan to create a Marula Industrial Park. The Marula Industrial Hub envisaged for the Phalaborwa area will provide a platform to further exploit the tasty marula fruit, which has a high vitamin C content and is already produced as a beer and a liqueur. The Limpopo Department of Economic Development and Tourism (LEDET) is encouraging research into the uses of marula and the development of commercial products such as cosmetics and jams. The University of Limpopo is making good progress with a marula wine.

Facilities at the hub will include a centre for research and processing facilities to create more value from the raw product. Advisors will be available to help small-scale farmers and SMMEs enter the formal economy.

The Marula initiative is consistent with the broader agricultural sector plans for Limpopo. The provincial government has identified five Agricultural Development Zones (ADZs) across the province, including the Mopani District within which the Marula Hub is located. Programmes to increase productivity have been presented to small-scale farmers. Small-scale producers are receiving support in the form of irrigation infrastructure, livestock infrastructure and other production inputs.

The University of Venda has its own commercial offshoot, the Univen Innovative Growth Company (UIGC) which is solely owned by the university. Services are offered to the public by a range of consultants and trainers via five programmes, including the Animal Production Programme, the Farm Equipment Programme, the Univen Commercial Unit and the Univen Consultancy Unit.

Targeted plans

The SEZ and industrial parks being promoted in the province are conceptualised within a broader framework. The Limpopo Development Plan (LDP) targets three broad areas for improvement and development: socio-economic, infrastructural and institutional. Every department of the Limpopo Provincial Government has targets within the LDP which are translated into actionable programmes to be implemented within time-frames.

The plan is supported by strategies relating to a spatial investment framework in public and private sector infrastructure, an integrated public transport policy and policies on land development.

Key elements of the Limpopo Development Plan are: industrialisation (beneficiation of mining and agricultural products and produce); mining (local suppliers, improved training and access to sector for entrepreneurs); infrastructure development; agri-processing; SMME promotion and ICT and the knowledge economy (establish a WAN footprint).

The Limpopo Economic Development Agency (LEDA) is the key driver of the provincial government’s drive to boost the economy through investment. LEDA is an agency of LEDET. LEDA’s brief is to contribute to accelerated industrialisation in Limpopo by stimulating and diversifying the industrial base of the regional economy. The focus is on high-impact projects that will spark growth in a variety of sectors and create employment opportunities.

Land, property and infrastructure development (including business parks and industrial parks) are vital components of the plan. As these targeted areas grow, the infrastructure and associated industries should act as a magnet for other businesses and industries in the same sector, and service industries.

Mining is currently the most important part of the provincial economy. Recent platinum mining developments on the eastern limb of the Bushveld Complex have increased this effect but global commodity prices have been uncertain in recent years.

One of the goals of the LDP is to see more beneficiation from the mining sector, which will support the goal of further industrialising the province’s economy. Related to this is an emphasis on the goal of developing manufacturing capacity, and this is where the role of SEZs is so important.

Ambitious construction plans are afoot in Gauteng

Housing at Fleurhof Ext 2, sponsored by the Madulamoho Housing Association. Credit: Gauteng Partnership Fund

The fourth quarter of 2020 and the first half of 2021 must be growth periods for the construction and property sectors – for the simple reason that they barely functioned during the lockdown caused by the global pandemic.

South Africa is fortunate in that it is emerging from the lockdown at the same time as summer days lengthen and the national government is getting down to brass tacks with its long-awaited infrastructure programme. With a dedicated unit within the Presidency, a conference has been held and more than 200 possible projects have been whittled down to 51 projects that have been gazetted.

Building mega-cities

By 2030 Gauteng will have two huge new cities, socially diverse, digitally connected and ecologically responsible and sustainable. That’s if the Provincial Government of Gauteng brings to fruition its plans for the west (Lanseria to Haartbeespoort Dam) and in the south, where Vaal River City will stretch from Vereeniging to Sasolburg in the Free State.

In the 25 years since South Africa has been a democracy, more than 1.2-million subsidised houses have been built by government in Gauteng. Provincial government has pledged to release 10 000 serviced stands as part of its Rapid Land Release programme and it intends finishing incomplete housing projects in Alexandra, Evaton, Kliptown, Bekkersdal and Winterveldt.

Bodies such as the National Housing Finance Corporation, Indlu and Umastandi (social capital entrepreneurs) are working together with provincial authorities to find ways to formalise and monetise the township market so that sustainable incomes can be generated and affordable housing and rental stock becomes more readily available.

An important concept for developers in Johannesburg is the tax incentive that accompanies the Urban Development Zone (UDZ). The City of Johannesburg and the South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA) have developed a database for all UDZ properties. Information about the owner of the plot, the valuation and zoning rights is available for every stand.

Various “improvement districts” have also been created, for example the RID (Retail Improvement District) where businesses in a designated area pay levies to secure improved cleaning and security services. The Johannesburg City Improvement District Forum shares information among the CIDs. Expenditure by CIDs collectively on supplementary public space safety, cleaning and maintenance is estimated to be about R61-million annually.

The Gauteng Partnership Fund (GPF) has attracted more than R3.5-billion in private sector funding for affordable housing in the province since 2012. The Brickfields housing and rental development in Newtown was funded by the GPF and implemented by the Johannesburg Housing Company (JHC) as one of the first inner-city rejuvenation projects. JHC is a leader in converting bad buildings to useable rental space.

The Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) projects range broadly across many areas within the city, and include plans to use transport hubs to improve the lives of residents living in previously neglected areas.

Private developer Indluplace Properties has purchased nine large apartment blocks, taking its total buildings in central Johannesburg CBD, Berea and Hillbrow to 23: 33% of the units are bachelor pads, 22% are two-bedroomed flats. The listed company (its major shareholder is Arrowhead) intends to “aggressively grow its portfolio” of high-yielding properties as it believes the rental market has huge potential.

Johannesburg cityscape, taken at sunset, showing Hillbrow residential centre with the prominent Ponte flats and the communications tower. (Credit: iStock by Getty Images)

Property developments

Quite what the future of office space will be remains to be seen in the wake of Covid-19. Investment and pension funds are heavily invested in commercial and residential property so this is something that will be closely monitored in the early 2020s.

The hugely successful Sandton model of office and accommodation development is being replicated across the province. Sandton’s 10 000 businesses and 300 000 residents are spoilt for accommodation choices, but city-like developments are springing up in other parts of Gauteng as well.

The newest is Castle Gate Lifestyle Centre, which is being built in Pretoria as the first phase in a multi-use development that will eventually comprise offices, medical facilities, a hotel along with a retail centre and more than 1 000 residential units. The R6-billion project is being undertaken by Atterbury and the Carl Erasmus Trust.

The biggest is Menlyn Maine in the eastern suburbs of Pretoria. Not only is this a huge multi-use project, it also aims to be South Africa’s first “Green Precinct”. Professional services and consulting firm PwC has chosen the Waterfall City estate near Midrand as the site for its R1.5-billion headquarters, housing 3 500 employees with a total of 40 000 m² of lettable space. The building is owned by Attacq and developed by Atterbury.

Rosebank’s popularity as an office node continues to grow and Melrose Arch has proved a popular development, but none of this has stopped Sandton continue to expand and it remains first choice as the national base for several large companies. Recent new headquarters have been constructed for Discovery and Sasol.

The trend called “semigration” has been having a downward effect on Gauteng’s residential property prices for some time. Semigration refers to people moving within the country – not quite emigrating – to the Western Cape. Pam Golding Properties CEO Andrew Golding told the Sunday Times in November 2019 that the Cape drought had led to other areas such as the Garden Route and the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal becoming more popular as destinations.

Featured panellists announced for Investec CIB Copper & New Energy roundtable at Virtual Investment Programme

London: Investing in African Mining Indaba (Mining Indaba), part of Hyve Group Plc, partners with Investec CIB to announce the panellists for their CPD certified analyst-led roundtable. Taking place on 30 March at 13:00 (GMT+1).

Featured panellists include:
  • Nkateko Mathonsi, Analyst, Investec CIB
  • Ruben Fernandes, CEO of Base Metals, Anglo American
  • Fortune Mojapelo, CEO, Bushveld Minerals
  • Julian Kettle, Senior Vice President, Vice-Chair Metals & Mining, Wood Mackenzie
  • Jeremy Wrathall, CEO, Cornish Lithium
  • Denis Sharypin, Director of Strategic Marketing, Norilsk Nickel

Despite the ongoing challenges of the global epidemic, the price of metals with applications to the energy sector have reached record highs. This year, the copper price touched heights not seen in nearly a decade, while platinum lingers around its highest price since 2014. Demand for these metals and others are crucial for the green energy revolution is expected to remain strong and the boost from stimulus spending will likely lead to a boom that echoes the last “super cycle” that kicked off in the early 2000s.

As governments prepare to embark on a new wave of infrastructure spending to stimulate growth in a post-pandemic world, the CPD certified roundtable led by Nkateko Mathonsi, Analyst at Investec CIB will ask the question ‘are we on the brink of a new commodity “super cycle”?’. Producers and explorers of copper, nickel, lithium, vanadium and manganese will deliberate on the role in which these metals will play in the momentous shift to green energy. Exploring the supply and demand fundamentals as well as the various technologies likely to underpin the respective markets in the medium to long-term.

The roundtable is open to approved participants of the Virtual Investment Programme run by Mining Indaba, register now. For more information, please click here.

The roundtable will coincide with the Virtual Investment Programme (launching 30-31 March), a two-day programme of highly targeted and optimised investment meetings and world-leading content exclusive for the global mining finance community as well as junior and mid-tier mining companies. For more information on how to join the Virtual Investment Programme, please click here.

 

Gauteng agriculture sector insight 2020/21

Tongaat Hulett, best known as a sugar producer, is selling its starch business (with three milling plants in southern Gauteng) to the KLL Group, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Barloworld Logistics Africa. The Meyerton plant is pictured below.

The R5.3-billion transaction was in doubt because of concerns about the value of the business expressed by the buyer in the context of Covid-19 but the Competition Tribunal in July 2020 approved the deal.

The temporary closure of the Tshwane Market due to the pandemic brought a quick reaction from RSA Group and Freshling. Within 48 hours a new facility in Midrand was up and running and on the first day, more than 340 pallets of fresh produce were available for sale.

The Fresh Produce Market in Johannesburg is South Africa’s biggest market. The region’s other metropolitan areas, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni, also have busy markets. The Springs Fresh Produce Market accounts for 3% of South African market share.

Gauteng’s agricultural sector is concentrated on producing vegetables. There is commercial farming in the southern sector of the province (part of South Africa’s maize triangle) and the farming of cotton, groundnuts and sorghum is undertaken in areas near Bronkhorstspruit (east) and Heidelberg (in the south).

Credit: Tongaat Hulett

The province is home to some of South Africa’s biggest agricultural companies, including AFGRI. Africa’s largest feedlot for cattle is located in Heidelberg: Karan Beef’s facility can accommodate 120 000 cattle. The feedmill processes 1 400 tons per day and the associated abattoir in Balfour in neighbouring Mpumalanga sometimes deals with 1 800 head of cattle per day.

The Kanhym Agrimill in Vereeniging is one of three in the company’s portfolio, which collectively processes 250 000 tons of animal feed annually. Kanhym Estates is the largest producer of pigs in the country. There are many poultry farm and production facilities in Gauteng. Companies include Astral Foods, RCL Foods and Daybreak Farms.

A R400-million agro-processing plant was launched in 2019 in the Gauteng Industrial Development Zone (GIDZ). The GIDZ is located at OR Tambo International Airport and is intended to encourage exports of high-value goods.

The Provincial Government of Gauteng has set up Action Labs to focus on agriculture and agro-processing with a focus on land tenure issues and improving food security. If food producers can be linked to the value chain then township economies can benefit.

In almost every aspect of the spatial planning being carried out by the Gauteng Provincial Government, agriculture and agro-processing are key components, either of Special Economic Zones (SEZ), industrial parks or agri-parks. Plans for the Western Corridor, for example, include an agro-processing park and logistics hub.

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