"I heard a lot about you," Said the President, "You are the kind of farmer we need to make our country prosper."
It was a sunny day at Upington Airport when President Mandela and a small entourage of Political and fruit and wine industry representatives stepped off the presidential aircraft. On the tarmac to meet them was Piet Karsten, Deputy chairman of the Unifruco Group and well-known grape grower from the Orange River during which he hoped to enlist fruit and wine industry support for three projects at Hartswater near Kimberley, Upington on the Orange River and Garies in Namaqualand. Among those on board were Norhtern Cape Premier, Mr Manne Dipicio, and Minister of Welfare, Arts and Culture, Ms Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, as well as KWV MD, Dr Willem Barnard and Mr Erik van Vlaanderen, managing Director of Unifruco South Africa.
President Mandela had obviously been briefed on the contribution the fresh fruit export industry makes to the development of the Orange river region and his discussion with Piet Karsten was warm and full of praise for initiatives to expand participation in farming to the worker community. Although the president commented in general on the contribution of forward thinking people in the fruit industry and private sector, he specifically referred to the contribution made by the Karsten group regarding development of people and shareholding for workers on their farms. Premier Dipicio has for some years now been closely involved with the table grape growers of the Northern Cape and has on many occasions paid tribute to the industry for its economic contribution to the region.
Reflecting on his meeting with the President Piet Karsten said that creating work and better opportunities for all are obviously high on the president’s agenda. “We as export grape growers, have the ability to compete internationally and earn the foreign exchange that will make his dream come true. We look forward to our role in this venture.
Piet Karsten meets President Mandela at Upington airport. With them are Mr Manne Dipicio, Northern Cape Premier and Dr Willem Barnard, Managing Directorof KWV. |
