8 / 33
The
grain and oilseed industry
of south africa – A journey through time
8
• Confirmation of instructions to the Grain Producers Organisation
• Approval of the constitution
• Restructuring of the regions
• Membership
• Appointment of auditors
Grain birth full of pain and joy!
Soos ek dit sien
column or
“Manie” (Landbouweekblad, 26 June 1999)
A classic labour: Pain on the one hand, but also joy about the arrival of a stout
baby on the other hand. This is more or less how one can describe the birth
of the new National Grain Producers Organisation (NGPO) the other day.
Strangely enough, in between the goodbyes and hellos and the old and the
new in the grain industry, Manie was thinking about one of Siener van Rens-
burg’s predictions – that one about the black warrior who stands up and
whose shadow ultimately falls across the entire country.
One should preferably refrain from predictions, but may this young giant who
lifted his head this month on the Harvest Day farm also leave his footprints
from north to south, and cast shadows that the South African agricultural in-
dustry has not yet seen. Footprints that I hope will stretch deeper into Africa
and that can no longer be ignored in the highest boardrooms of the country.
The dissolution congresses of the WPO, NOPO, the SPO and NAMPO were
thick with nostalgia and homesickness – particularly that of NAMPO. So thick
that Japie Grobler, a man who can usually shoot from the hip with words, had
to interrupt his final speech as NAMPO chair every now and then and bite his
bottom lip hard to keep his emotions in check.
He summarised it nicely: It’s like when your firstborn at the same time achieves
something special, comes of age, wants to get married and leave the country
– all at once. On the one hand you are bursting with pride as a parent, on the
other hand the heartache of farewell is very raw and close to the surface.
The ‘old stalwarts’ of NAMPO were honoured: The Claassens, the Von Abos,
the De Jagers. But the spotlight also shone on the people in the engine room,
people like Giel van Zyl, these days apparently mnr Mielie oom Gielie, eccen-
tric and cantankerous, in Bully Botma’s words, and Kit le Clus, as complicated
as can be, but one of a kind.
The guest list was almost a who’s who of SA agriculture: Former Minister
Greyling Wentzel told the amusing anecdote of the time he was sent to
Bothaville by the Big Crocodile to tell the defiant NAMPO to stop their
nonsense, only to bite the dust and ultimately walk away from there with
NAMPO as his bosom friend. Kassier was there to receive his honours
certificate, and virtually every researcher and input provider in the grain
industry came and joined the party. Emerging agriculture too was there
in their full glory, with a translation service and all for those who did not
understand Afrikaans.
Old friends who were unable to come, sent their congratulations to the new
bull. The last DG of agriculture, Dr Frans van der Merwe, sent a message
from Kleinmond to say that he prayed that this government would come to
its senses soon and realise that South Africa is a shining light in dark Africa
because it has a wonderful agricultural sector.
The letter from Ernesto Chicucuma, Chairperson of NAMPO’s counterpart in
Angola, confirmed this: Please tell your congress out loud that we want to
be your friends and co-operate with you. Without a healthy agriculture Africa
cannot grow.
An outstanding buffet placed the seal on a
wonderful event.
Five stars! NAMPO’s final congress was
concluded with a prestige function when
dignitaries, including producers from
across the spectrum and input providers,
together tucked into the meal.
The leader producers who headed the
amalgamation. From the left: Messrs An-
dries Beyers, Gert Pretorius, Peet le Roux
van Zyl (NAMPO’s legal adviser), Japie
Grobler and Pieter Morkel.
The men who were elected to head the new
Grain Producers Organisation of South Afri-
ca. From the left: Messrs Giel van Zyl (Gen-
eral Manager), Japie Grobler (Chairperson)
and Bully Botma (Vice-chairperson).