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AgriBonus is speeding into the new year with a brand-new set of
wheels. This year they will be standing head and shoulders (or is
that head, shoulders, trailer and bakkie?) above the rest at every
expo, farmers’ day, show and agricultural event. According to
Lutz Nell, managing director of AgriBonus, they are tackling the new
year with vigour and he and his team are very excited to jumpstart
their new ideas.
AgriBonus’s latest initiative is to take a trailer, in which
they will carry all the most popular products that points are exchanged
for, to the farmers. You will not be able to miss the trailer on the
road or at your next agricultural event, for it will be clearly branded
with the AgriBonus logo and their contact details.
Toits Motor Group will sponsor a towing vehicle throughout the year
that will also be clearly branded with the Toits and AgriBonus logos.
Now you can take that bakkie that you’ve always wanted under
eye, order it from Toits Motor Group and earn Bonus points.
The towing vehicles will change throughout the year in order to introduce
all of the bakkies and 4x4’s Toits have in stock. They will
include the Nissan series with the Pathfinder, Navara, X-Trail and
Hardbody, as well as the Ford, Mazda and Mahindra vehicles available
from Toits. Therefore farmers will be introduced to a wide variety
of vehicles.
According to Ernie Bredenhann, marketing manager of AgriBonus, they
have decided to do that something extra when they attend farmers’
days, meetings, expos and agricultural congresses. “It would
also link up with our new marketing focus on our members. We decided
to equip the trailer with the favourite product and take them with
us to all these events.”
Be sure to visit the AgriBonus trailer. It is equipped with a computer
with the whole AgriBonus database installed on it. Therefore you can
not only exchange your points, AgriBonus can also establish exactly
what your current point status is. Now you know if you can afford
that Gedore toolkit or Weber braai, or rather only one of those handy
coffee flasks or a MPO hat, and can you exchange your points on the
spot, without having to wait.
You can also find out more about how exactly the AgriBonus points
system works – where you can earn and exchange points. The AgriBonus
trailer offers AgriBonus the opportunity to answer all your questions
in person, and that on your front step!
The AgriBonus trailer will be equipped with various products, including
camping gear such as tents, as well as tools, clothing and much more
– everything the members love to buy. “The trailer gives
the opportunity for the exchange of points, which is an extra value
adder for our members and partners. It also serves as a marketing
and communication tool,” says Bredenhann.
Bredenhann also promises that any product that you want to buy, but
that is not available in the trailer, will be ordered for you on the
spot by the AgriBonus Service Centre. This product would then be made
available at your nearest outlet. He further reminds members that
the products advertised in Bonus, are not the only products you can
exchange points for. You can apply for any product, even if it is
not available at one of the AgriBonus partners.
The trailer was already seen at the MPO North road shows, where the
farmers gaped at all the wonderful products. Theo van Vuuren from
Standerton was one of the first farmers who made use of the opportunity
to exchange his points. He bought dr Koos Coetzee’s new book,
Verstaan die Ekonomie, and thinks that it is a very good idea for
AgriBonus to take their products to the farmers.
Bonus will keep you informed about where in the country Bredenhann
and the trailer finds themselves. You are also welcome to inform AgriBonus
about any farmers’ day or agricultural event that is taking
place in your area. Phone the AgriBonus service centre at 012 804
4809.
Be on the lookout for the AgriBonus trailer at your events throughout
the country. Be sure to visit the trailer immediately for all your
product needs, and at the same time chat about your points status
and everything you can do with your points. There will definitely
be something to trigger each and everyone’s imagination in the
new AgriBonus trailer. |
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| by Ludolph Swanevelder, chairman of the National Confederation
of Hunters’ Associations of South Africa (Chasa) |
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With the hunting season just around the corner,
Bonus took it upon them to find out, on behalf of the hunters among
our members, what the new Law on Firearms comprises of. The new
law on the control of firearms was put into place on 31 July 2005.
In as far as the government’s systems and structures allows
it, the new law is now practised, and where the necessary practices
lack, the old law still applies. The new law has two aspects that
are of importance to hunters, namely renewal and training.
In the next four years, all current licenses have to be renewed.
Firearm owners whose birthdays fall between January and March, must
renew their licenses before 31 March 2006, those born in April to
June, must do it before 31 March 2007, those from July to September
before 31 March 2008 and the rest falls in 2009.
Licensing must be preceded by proficiency training in firearm handling
and knowledge of the law. Theoretical as well as practical training
must be completed at a training facility that is both SAS Seta (Police
and Security Sector Training Authority) and SAPD accredited. The
practical shooting must take place on a SABS 2502 accredited shooting
range.
There are four categories of proficiency training, namely hand firearm,
hunting riffles, shotguns and semi-automatic guns. The training
can take up to 100 hours for beginners. Credit is however given
to current knowledge and abilities. The training industry calls
this RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning). According to this, a day-long
course would most likely be appropriate for most hunters. The course
currently costs about R400 for the first category that is completed,
and then half price for each subsequent category completed.
A SAS Seta certificate is then issued to the learner. He then goes
to the SAPD with this certificate. If he is older than 21, has a
SABS safe and complies with the character qualifications, the SAPD
grants him a competency certificate. The cost of this is R70. The
individual is now licensed for five years and can apply for licensing
of his firearm. The cost for a new application is R140 and R70 for
the renewal of firearms. To save time, the last two applications
can be handed in simultaneously. However, keep in mind that the
risk of an administrative mistake can be heightened by this.
Compliance is made for the first round of renewals, according to
which only the theoretical part of the SAS Seta training has to
be done. This costs about R200. SAS Seta currently does not grant
certificates for this – the training facility’s own
certificate is accepted for this. The industry is expecting, similar
to the fiasco with drivers’ licenses, a hectic rush at the
last minute. The proficiency training is timeless. Therefore hunters
are advised to complete the whole course in the next month or two.
After 2008, it is mandatory to have completed the whole course in
anyway.
If you apply for a fifth (or more) firearm, you also need status
as a Dedicated Hunter. This status is not issued by the SAPD, but
by an accredited hunters’ society. There currently are 21
accredited hunters’ societies. The SA Hunters’ Society
and SA Wingshooters are directly accredited. The 19 Chasa member
societies have this status via an umbrella accreditation of Chasa.
The member societies include Amatola Hunters, Big Bore Association
of South Africa, Border Hunting Club, Bushveld Hunters, Bushveld
Weapon and Ammunition Association, Eastern Cape Game Management,
Hand Weapon Hunters’ Association of Southern Africa, Highveld
Hunters, Cape Hunters, Kalahari Hunters, KwaZulu-Natal Hunters,
Lowveld Hunters, Nothern Cape Hunters, Northwest Hunters, Problem
Animal Control Association of SA, SA Sport and Hunting Federation,
SA Huntingriffle Shooting Association, Southern Cape Hunters and
the Freestate Hunters’ Association. Furthermore three of these
Chasa member societies also have accredited status in own right.
In the next edition of Bonus we will give a detailed discussion
on how to achieve Dedicated Hunter Status. |
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The Department of Agriculture announced the launch of its agritourism
programme at a national stakeholder consultative workshop held in
Pretoria. This innovative programme, called Agri-tourism South Africa,
links community-driven agricultural projects with tourism to alleviate
poverty and stimulate economic growth within the identified poverty
nodes. These businesses will either operate as product suppliers
to the tourism trade, or as tourist destinations.
“It is our hope that the success of appropriately linked agricultural
enterprises with the growing tourism industry can go a long way
towards empowering rural communities,” said Thoko Didiza,
Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs.
The objective of the workshop was to introduce the agritourism programme
to a broad base of stakeholders with interests in the agriculture
and tourism sectors, to showcase the products and services from
a number of the projects, as well as unveil the institutional arrangements
that have been put in place for the programme.
Senior executives of the Department of Agriculture, CEOs of provincial
and local government tourism institutions, as well as executives
from the tourism and retail industries attended the workshop. Stakeholders
were able to share ideas and provide input on the programme.
The country has been divided into 21 presidential poverty nodes,
of which 13 are in rural areas and eight in urban areas. From each
of these nodes, a minimum of two projects was identified, culminating
in a total of 51 projects. Business plans have been developed for
each project, clearly identifying the link between agriculture and
-tourism and the specific needs that will make each project a successful
enterprise that benefits the communities.
“We are satisfied with the outcome of the workshop. It created
a platform for potential funders, investors and buyers of products
and services to show their support for Agritourism South Africa.
The tourism industry and funders from the first economy are committed
to the programme,” Didiza said.
The programme is driven by the EPA Consortium, comprising of agricultural
and tourism specialists, social facilitators, trainers, legal experts,
stakeholder managers and marketing communication experts, in order
to develop these projects into viable economic entities within the
tourism industry.
For more information contact Steve Galane: 083635 7346 or visit:
www.agritourismsa.co.za. |
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Nissan bakkies are vehicles that have run some deep impressions
into the South African soil – do you still remember the well-known
1200 and 1400 series? Everyone saw them as hard workers that would
never let you down. Then the Hardbody was introduced, and once again
Nissan left a clear footprint on the market place. This series did
its name justice, and its strong lines reflected the idea of the “hardness”
of Africa.
The Navara that was launched last year took the Nissan bakkie a step
further. The strong lines and “hardness” is still there
– but there is now more of it. The Nissan Navara is bigger than
his earlier brothers, and he stands proud in the line of his competitors
in the country’s display rooms.
We took the Navara double cab two-wheeler for a spin, and immediately
realised that Nissan succeeded in getting a balance between a work
and recreational vehicle. The inside workmanship is not typically
bakkie, and the driving experience lets you forget that you have a
1 511 mm by 1 560 mm loading area behind you. Further the space between
the back wheels are a whole 1 130 mm. The depth of the loading area
is 457 mm. Nissan makes the tying of loads easier with the so-called
“Utility-track” loading system. The four tying points
run on a track on both sides, and allows various configurations of
load tying. There are also four body mounted load grummets for extra
tying. If the loading area is fully loaded (a load capacity of 967
kg), you still have the roof carrier. The carrier is formed in such
a way, that its wind resistance is limited to a minimum, and it can
carry a full 100 kg.
It is the interior of the Navara that makes you forget that you are
driving a light commercial vehicle. The front seats are adjustable,
while the back seats have a 60/40 folding configuration. The Navara
also has electrical windows. The instrument board has all the necessary
meters in the right places. There is, as in many vehicles, a radio
and frontload CD-player. The air-conditioner also works well. You
have a good view of all the meters, and the seat support is excellent.
The Navara has a six speed gearbox – the sixth gear can be viewed
as an overdrive with a relationship of 0,769. This highest gear will
of course help to keep the fuel consumption under control. The Navara
also boasts a speed control function.
One can expect that the V6 power source of almost 4 litres is not
stingy on its fuel consumption. Looking at the performance of the
Navara, you find a superior 385 Nm torque at 4 000 rpm. The power
output is 198 kW at 5 600 rpm. One can feel that this Jap has some
kick when you step on the accelerator. When it comes to manoeuvring,
I found that the turning circle of 13,5 m is a bit wide – especially
when one is dealing with such a long vehicle (a total length of 5,2
m and a width of 1,85 m).
Overall, the Navara is worth its prize. The model we took for a test
drive costs about R273 450. You get a lot of vehicle for your money
and hopefully the Navara will, like the Hardbody, drive a open a space
for itself in the market. |
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