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THE
GRAIN AND OILSEED INDUSTRY
OF SOUTH AFRICA – A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME
ႅႂ
NATIONAL OIL AND PROTEIN SEEDS PRODUCER
ORGANISATION (NOPO)
1994: Requests for servicing of special interests
Until 31 December 1994 oilseed producers in South Africa were serviced at provincial
level by the oilseeds committees of the Northern Cape, Free State, Natal and Transvaal
agricultural unions.
The National Oilseeds Committee of the SAAU handled common matters with
respect to oilseeds that had been referred by the provincial committees. This
committee did include elected producer representatives from the respective
provincial oilseeds committees, but representatives from other interest groups
also served in the national committee.
However, in time oilseeds producers expressed the need for servicing of special
interests by a national industry organisation.
NOPO as a national industry organisation
At a meeting of the National Oilseeds Committee on 7 October 1994 it was decided to
establish the National Oilseeds Producer Organisation (NOPO) from 1 January 1995 as
a national industry organisation.
The principle was accepted that NOPO would be autonomous with respect to all
oilseeds industry affairs, but that general matters like roads and infrastructure would
be referred to the SAAU.
Notice was given that the founding Congress of NOPO would take place at the ARC’s
Grain Crops Institute in Potchefstroom on 16 February 1995.
After the founding of the organisation NOPO affiliated with the SAAU.
The National Oilseeds Committee also decided on 7 October 1994 that the principle
of production representation would be accepted for the composition of the Executive
and Congress.
The newly established NOPO’s office was located in Pretoria and Mr Nico Vermaak
was appointed as the first manager.
Video: Mr Giel van Zyl talks about Mr Mandela’s
visit to the NAMPO Harvest Day farm.
Photo taken during Mr Nelson Mandela’s visit. From the left: Messrs Japie Grobler,
TrevorManuel, the pilotwho broughtMrMandela toNAMPOPark, an unknown person (pos-
sibly a bodyguard), Boetie Viljoen (Chairperson of NAMPO at that stage), Johan Hoffman,
Nelson Mandela, Cerneels Claassen, Bully Botma, Mosiuoa Lekota, Giel van Zyl and
Dr Kit le Clus.
