By Gregg Hillyer, DTN/The Progressive Farmer
It’s been 23 years since the end of apartheid, but fallout from racial segregation continues to cast its long shadow on many non-white South Africans. A lack of education, literacy and technical skills means low-paying jobs and a life of poverty.
The owners of Mooigezicht Estates want to change that, offering hope instead of hopelessness for its employees and families. The multi-generation family operation is committed to the spiritual, social and economic enrichment of their workforce and community. “We are growing our product through growing our people,” says Nico Verster, the company’s human resource director.
Located in the Hex River Valley, Mooigezicht Estates (which means “Beautiful View”) is one of South Africa’s premier seedless table grape producers. Its founder, Fanie Rossouw, was a pioneer in distributing his own fruit throughout Africa. After purchasing his first farm in 1928, Rossouw acquired additional “production units” in the 1930s and ‘40s, making him the largest South African exporter of grapes at the time. His son, Stephanus, joined the family business in 1965. Stepahnus’s son, Francois, eventually joined the operation as well. Today their vineyards span across 11 farms on 335 hectares.
The Hex River Valley is nestled between mountains and is blessed with a Mediterranean-type climate ideal for growing a wide range of grape varieties. Growers here enjoy an 18-week production season, one of the longest grape harvesting seasons in the world. Harvest at Mooigezicht was just wrapping up when we visited in early April. The estate produced a record 1.65 million cartons of grapes.
Bountiful harvests in such a labor-intensive industry, however, aren’t possible without a highly skilled workforce. To retain employees, Mooigezicht offers on-going training, industry-leading benefits and a broad range of social and development opportunities. These efforts and more result in a ridiculously low 2% annual turnover among full-time employees.
A sample of employee benefits include:
• Profit bonus initiative and pension plan
• On-site satellite medical clinic
• Housing, complete with security
• Sports and social clubs
• Counseling
• Health education
For employees with families, Mooigezicht built 10 childcare/preschool centers. “Parents can go to work knowing their children are safe and well cared for,” points out Verster. Trained staff teaches the fundamentals to prepare children for primary school, while providing a strong ethical foundation and Christian principles. Children also receive two meals daily. All services are free of charge.
The estate is also equipped with a 1,000+ book library (in three official South African languages), reference and recreational materials and a full-time librarian. Employees and their families also have access to computers and the internet.
Mooigezicht puts a premium on education because the school dropout is extremely high in South Africa. Tudors are available at no cost. Grants and other financial help are also offered for children who seek higher education.
“We want to help them break the cycle of farm workers…encourage them that there is more out there so they can achieve their full potential,” explains Verster.