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Family farm now owned and run by workers
Dust billows over us as Niklaas Prins drives up to the harvester in the block of Colombar in the farm bakkie to show me what has been achieved on the farm Nooitgedacht 779 where, after two years of negotiations and perseverance, he and 51 fellow farm workers have now bought the property and are running it through a trust. LOUISE BRODIE reports.
Niklaas is the chairman of Winona Trust and manager on Nooitgedacht 779 at Overhex in the Breede River Valley. His firm handshake and a direct gaze speak of a deep sense of belonging and responsibility. And despite tough times brought on by the current drought, Niklaas, his vice chairman Stuurman Thys and the other trustees and beneficiaries of Winola Park Trust exude a quiet pride in what they have achieved. Three years ago, these former farm workers took ownership of Nooitgedacht 779, a 100 hectare wine and vegetable farm, and with the guidance and mentorship of the farm's former owner Chris du Toit, they have gained the confidence and experience to successfully run this farm. Niklaas says, "Towards the end of the 1990's we were becoming worried about our future. Times were tough both in the wine industry and for us as farm workers. We were concerned that if things did not improve, we might end up off the farm and living in a squatter camp. The opportunities government had introduced at that stage for providing transformation in the agricultural sector provided the impetus for transformation on this property."
Chris explained, "Although we received a positive response, we realised this would be a lengthy procedure, and we would have liked to fast-track the process. On the grounds of this positive response, we then applied to the Land and Agricultural Bank for LRAD funds. This was approved, and we were told that the funds for the sale of the property would be paid in April 2003. By January 2004, after numerous postponements when I had still not received payment but had been expected to carry the farming costs, I threatened to cancel the sale. This had the desired effect and the funds were finally released. The entire process had taken two years. "Despite all these setbacks, I remained determined to sell this property to my farm workers, as there exists a long-standing loyalty and history between these people and my family that goes back as far as the 1930's. All the trustees are descendents of a man by the name of Klaas Thys, who lived on this farm, grew up with my grandfather Chrisjan du Toit. He raised his family on Nooitgedacht and worked on the farm for his entire life." On this issue, Chris has certainly put his money where his mouth is. The LRAD funds did not cover the entire purchase price for the property. The Winola Park Trust needed substantially more investment capital, as well as the necessary running capital. This shortfall figure was roughly the same amount as what Chris had received from the sale of the farm, so to give the new project a better start, he agreed to lend the trust the balance of what they required. The farm has 35 hectares of wine grapes that are delivered to Overhex Cellar and the rest of the arable land on the farm has always been used for growing vegetable cash crops that usually provide good profits. For two of the last three years, which have been the driest in living memory, the property managed to make a profit. This year the drought has affected the property severely, and they were not able to raise profits from vegetable production. "We planted onions, and had the best harvest ever, but so did the rest of the Western Cape, and the onion price dropped through the floor!" In August this year, the Minister of Agriculture allocated R190 000 to the Winola Park Trust with which to plant vineyards. Chris explains, "We told Minister Cobus Dowry, the Minister of Agriculture that there would not be enough water to plant vineyards, and requested that these funds be allocated to the trust for drought relief. This has been long in coming, and for a few months our farming operations have been running on the smell of an oil rag, and trusting that the Lord will provide for us. I am pleased to say that the funds were paid out at the beginning of March, and we are set to continue until we receive our income from the cellar." Nooitgedacht 779; wine grapes consisting of Colombar, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sultana, FernĈo Pires, Chenel, and Chenin Blanc. Winola Park Trust has 52 beneficiaries, and as Chris pointed out, this in reality means that their annual income from the farm is the equivalent to what a single farm owner can expect to make per week. Niklaas Prins agrees. "At this stage, there's not much profit in this for us, but the sense of ownership and responsibility for our own future has made all the difference to us." At present, Chris acts as a mentor to the new owners and management of Nooitgedacht 779, and some of the trust's beneficiaries have continued to work on Chris's other farm. This system provides them with an income from working on Chris's farm, and mentorship with the management of their farm. Niklaas's parting words were telling, "The drought is certainly testing our new operation, but I truly believe things will improve as our wealth lies in our people."
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It's great when a plan comes together! The main players in the Nooitgedact plan, front: Winola Trust trustees Niklaas Prins (chairman), Stuurman Thys, Dina Syster, Lea Baatjies, Katheline Apollis and Elsabe Thys. Back; harvester driver Tony Baatjies, and Chris du Toit, former owner.
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