Golden Fields Wheat Farming (Pty) Ltd Business Plan › Section 15 › Social Impact & Transformation

15.1 Employment Creation

Golden Fields will be a significant creator of employment opportunities in rural agricultural communities across the Western Cape and Free State provinces. The Company’s employment model encompasses three tiers of workforce engagement, each designed to maximise skills transfer and community economic benefit while maintaining operational efficiency.

At full operational capacity of 5,000 hectares, the Company will employ approximately 50–60 permanent staff members across management, technical, and operational functions. These permanent positions include farm managers, machine operators, irrigation technicians, agronomists, mechanics, administrative staff, and security personnel. All permanent employees will be enrolled in the Company’s benefits programme, including medical aid contributions, provident fund membership, and housing allowance where applicable.

Seasonal employment during peak periods (planting in May–July and harvesting in October–December) will provide an additional 80–120 positions annually. Seasonal workers will be recruited from local communities with preference given to individuals who have completed the Company’s agricultural skills training programme. The Company will comply fully with Sectoral Determination 13 (Farm Worker Sector) regarding minimum wages, working conditions, and tenure protections.

15.2 Skills Development & Training

The Company will establish a structured skills development programme registered with the Agricultural Sector Education and Training Authority (AgriSETA). The programme will offer apprenticeships in agricultural mechanisation, irrigation technology, and crop production management, providing participants with nationally recognised qualifications. An annual skills development budget of 2% of total payroll will be allocated to training activities, exceeding the minimum requirement under the Skills Development Act. The Company will also partner with Stellenbosch University’s Department of Agriculture and the University of the Free State’s Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences for internship placements and applied research collaboration.

15.3 B-BBEE Compliance

Golden Fields is committed to achieving a Level 4 or better B-BBEE rating under the Agri-BEE Sector Code within three years of inception. The Company’s transformation strategy addresses all five elements of the Agri-BEE scorecard: Ownership (minimum 25% black ownership through an employee share ownership programme and strategic B-BBEE partner), Management Control (targets for black representation at senior management and board levels), Skills Development (AgriSETA-accredited programmes as described above), Enterprise and Supplier Development (preferential procurement from B-BBEE-compliant and black-owned suppliers, with a target of 40% of discretionary spend), and Socio-Economic Development (community development initiatives equivalent to 1% of net profit after tax).

15.4 Community Development Initiatives

The Company will implement a community development programme focused on three priority areas. First, food security: the Company will donate 1% of annual wheat production to local school feeding programmes and community food banks, contributing directly to food security in the communities where it operates. Second, local enterprise development: the Company will establish a preferential procurement programme for local small enterprises, providing mentoring, advance payment terms, and guaranteed minimum order volumes to support the development of local service providers. Third, agricultural education: the Company will sponsor bursaries for students from farming communities to attend agricultural colleges and universities, building the pipeline of skilled agricultural professionals in South Africa.

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