Social responsibility

The Big Five Rooibos Company, together with Groenkol Rooibos Tea Estate, strives to educate and uplift the workers on the Estate to maximize their intellectual capabilities. The following is done at the moment to ensure that the workers have the opportunity to reach their potential:

Participation in work-related courses:

Throughout the year the workers of Groenkol Rooibos Tea Estate has the opportunity to participate in courses that enable them to do their work to the best of their ability. The courses include fork lift licenses, safety and first aid and welding. The workers can also obtain drivers licenses .By participating and obtaining these certificates and licenses, the workers qualify for higher post levels and better salaries.

Participation in courses that are self-enriching

AgriSeta, a seta of the Department of Labour in South Africa, has a program called ABET that strives to educate farm workers by teaching them to read, write and do mathematics. AgriSeta, in combination with Media Works, provide computers and work books to all the farm workers participating. Groenkol Rooibos Tea Estate has provided a learning area so that the participants study in an educational friendly environment. The facilitator is provided by The Big Five Rooibos Company.

This ABET-program was started in February 2009 on Groenkol and the first examination will take place in November 2009. Classes are given twice a week, during work hours. The workers are eager to participate. The management of both Groenkol Rooibos Tea Estate and The Big Five Rooibos Company are happy to see the response of the workers towards this program. This also indicates that the workers do want to enrich themselves.