Media Release: Prestige Agri Worker awards reach half way mark

More than half of the 16 regional winners in the Western Cape Prestige Agri Worker Awards who will go on to compete for the grand prize in November, have been announced so far.

The competition, sponsored by Shoprite since 2012, aims to recognise the hard work and dedication of the province’s agricultural workforce.

The regional winners have been announced at a series of awards ceremonies, with nine of the 16 regions already announced.

Winners of the regional awards receive a cash prize, a certificate, trophy and Shoprite vouchers. They will also go on to compete at provincial level during an adjudication process in October 2018, with the awards to be held in November 2018, where the overall winner will be announced as the Western Cape Prestige Agri Worker for 2018.

The overall winner walks away with a R25 000 cash prize, an overseas trip valued at R60 000, an iPad, Shoprite vouchers, data and a place on the Prestige Agri Worker Forum which meets with Minister Winde each quarter to discuss agri worker as well as sector related issues.

The winners so far are:

Swartland: Isak Bartman, foreman at Kloovenburg

Overberg: Alfred Dyantyi a foreman Frankenhof farm

Langeberg: Odile Adams, HR administrator at Graham Beck Wines

Garden Route: Isaac Ntoto, technical manager at Professional Horticultural  Consulting

Olifantsrivier: Brendon McKenna, production manager at Radyn farm

Hex Valley: Petrus Adolf, middle management at Nirvana

Klein Karoo: Andrew Jafta a general worker at Le Mirage

EGVV: Justin Jooste, a middle manager at Moreson Trust Farm

Witzenberg: Manuel Mackensie, a pest control operator from Donkerbos farm, Citrusdal

Minister of Economic Opportunities, Alan Winde said: “These awards are always an exciting time of year because we get to showcase the excellent work being done in the agricultural sector in this province, which is such an important part of our economy. We congratulate all the winners thus far and wish them well for the rest of the competition. We also want to thank all those who entered the competition this year, their entries always show us the calibre of the people we have working in this province and give us a picture of the skills we have in the sector.”

Note to media: Individual winner photographs are available upon request. For contact details to interview any of the regional winners, please contact Bianca Capazorio, spokesperson for the Ministry of Economic Opportunities.