Kader Asmal resigns 27 March 2008

Wine Council will be looking for a new chair

Kader Asmal has resigned as chairperson of the SA Wine Council with immediate effect. The former ANC Member of Parliament resigned from active politics last month, so the move was not wholly unexpected. Professor Asmal seemed to bring a rare and much welcomed  liveliness to this leadership position within the wine industry, and it is to be hoped that his successor - who will be nominated 'in due course' by the Wine Industry Advisory Forum.

The Board of the Council expressed its gratitude for and appreciation of Prof Asmal’s efforts in establishing the SA Wine Council since the body’s inception two years ago.

Incidentally, judging by its latest press release, the Council seems to have recently and extremely discreetly dropped the word 'Industry' from its name – as shown in the logo behind Kader Asmal in the photograph, and as still present on its website).