Buhle Betfu Scoops Platinum!

Buhle Betfu, in partnership with Cargo Carriers, has won the Logistics Achiever PLATINUM award for 2005 and so got the highest recognition in South Africa's supply chain and logistics industry.
There were only four platinum awards amongst the 18 finalists. The award was received by Mr William Mthembu Chairperson of Buhle Betfu at a glittering industry dinner at the Sandton Convention Centre on Thursday 6 October 2005.

Standing: Mike Scott, Danie Roodt, William Mthembu, Richard Durrant, Murray Bolton Front: Garth Bolton, Elmarie Ollewagen, Alan Melville

The Buhle Betfu scheme was initiated by Cargo Carriers, in consultation with the Mpumalanga small grower community. Its steady growth and success in the Nkomasi sugar growing region serves as a glowing example of what can be done at a community level when large businesses become actively involved in empowering the communities in which they do business.

The small growers have collectivized their transportation and logistics efforts to transport their cane from infield to the sugar mills, and put some of the profits from the operation into buying back shares in the joint venture company. The small growers currently own 36% of the company, a figure which will grow to a majority 60%.

The company works through Cargo Carriers who provide infrastructural and business management assistance. Profits and revenues have grown substantially year after year, and the small growers are already well on their way to a sustainable and profitable business for their sugar transportation and logistics needs.

The submission went through a tough selection process by a panel of judges from associations like CLM; SAPICS; RFA; IPSA; CGCSA and to be awarded platinum is sure a huge achievement.

The executives of Cargo Carriers would like to recognise the people involved in making this possible and especially the following individuals for their absolute dedication and commitment:

Left: William Mthembu (Chairman: Buhle Betfu), Danie Roodt (Director: Strategic Marketing & Siazama Sisonke), Alan Melville (Director: Buhle Betfu & Siazama Sisonke)

Top of Page

• The community - the real Buhle Betfu (the beauty IS ours!!)
• Rocky Smith - the pivot and our key man
• The grower directors, Judas, John and Sipho, and the grower committee
• Richard Durrant, George Corris, Alan Melville, William Mthembu - the initiators way back
• Murray Bolton, Dave Edmond Mack, and Elmarie Ollewagen who back up the team
• Phineas Masilela and Galima Nkuma, the operational team.