WINDHOEK – Witvlei Meat that employs over 200 people and supports 800 others in the sleepy town of Witvlei could face closure by early 2015.
Witvlei in the Omaheke Region suffers the second highest unemployment rate in the country.
The shocking possibility of the permanent closure of the private company’s abattoir emerged yesterday on the eve of the announcement of the 2015 allocation for the beef export quota of 1 600 tonnes to the lucrative Norwegian market.
It transpired yesterday that the long and bitterly fought battle of Witvlei Meat to keep afloat after its Norway quota was slashed from 500 to 300 tonnes last year could all have been in vain as it is expected that the only other exporter that qualified for the new quota – Meatco – is to get the lion’s share of 80 percent of the beef quota when the Minister of Trade and Industry Calle Schlettwein announces the allocation within days.
New Era learned yesterday that newcomer to the market, Brukarros Meat Processors (BMP), did not submit a bid to the Meat Board who conducted a final analysis of the presentations of Meatco and Witvlei Meat on November 18.
Before last year, the Norway quota was allocated on a 50:50 basis to Witvlei Meat and Meatco, but this was changed to a merit system after BMP entered the export fray and it was conditionally granted 100 tonnes of meat for export to Norway.
The uncertainty of Witvlei compelled a delegation of team leaders and human resources manager Ricky Bezuidenhoudt to engage in urgent discussions with Governor of the Omaheke Region Festus Ueitele since 08h00 yesterday.
During the meeting that lasted all day, the delegation stressed that Witvlei Meat is the only employment creator in the town and that the company has been heavily involved in the socio-economic sector of Witvlei with various projects to uplift the people.
Late yesterday afternoon a delegation from Witvlei trekked to Windhoek to demand answers from the Meat Board regarding the likelihood of Witvlei Meat receiving a small cut of the Norway meat quota.
Managing Director of Witvlei Meat Sidney Martin said he would reserve his comments on the possible closure of Witvlei Meat next year until the announcement on the 2015 quota is officially made.
“Depending on the allocation, the Board of Directors of Witvlei Meat will decide on the road ahead. All I can say for now is that if the Minister (Calle Schlettwein) makes an announcement that is to the detriment of the residents of Witvlei, he will have to live with his conscience as he will be promoting ‘Growth at Home’ while he is responsible for the closure of a company that supplies 165 permanent and 35 temporary jobs,” he said.
General Manager of the Meat Board Paul Strydom confirmed late yesterday afternoon the beef quota is to be finalised within the next few days after the final debate on the quota took place. The recommendations will now be handed to the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
He also confirmed Meatco and Witvlei Meat were the only two bidders, saying the final allocation will be done by the Minister of Trade and Industry in accordance with the Cabinet directive for the export of beef to Norway.
Witvlei Meat has been embroiled in various court cases since last year of which it won some like the appeal it lodged in the Supreme Court against a judgement delivered in the Windhoek High Court by Judge Dave Smuts ordering them to move from their current premises in Witvlei.
Justices of the Supreme Court – Albert Strydom, Sylvester Mainga and Fred Chomba – upheld Witvlei’s appeal and dismissed the earlier application by Agribank granted by Judge Smuts.
Martin says Witvlei Meat’s drawn-out court battles and visits to Norway this year were all about justice for the workers and their families who depend on Witvlei Meat as their only lifeline in a town that has no job opportunities.
“Everything depends on the quota announcement as Witvlei Meat could face a shutdown as it won’t be able to survive with the crumbs left on the table,” he says.
By Deon Schlechter