Protests expected again at KWV’s AGM  30 October 2007

Bawsi’s objections might split empowerment group Phetogo  

At last year’s Annual General Meeting of the KWV there were some protests in the street outside, and inside an attempt to block the election of big businessman Christo Wiese as a Director. Objecting to what they alleged was Wiese’s wrongful treatment of his farmworkers, the Black Association of the Wine and Spirits Industry (Bawsi), led by its president, Nosey Pieterse. But the other elements in Phetogo, the ‘empowerment’ grouping that holds about a quarter of KWV’s shares, did not suport this move, and Mr Wiese was nodded through – ironically enough to a position of responsibility for ‘Human resources and remuneration’.

A rather similar situation is expected to happen at this year’s AGM, due to be held in Paarl tomorrow (Wednesday 31 October), though MR Wiese seems safe enough and the subject of Bawsi’s ire is the re-election of two non-executive directors, Abri Botha and Fran du Plessis. This is according to an article in Business Report, by Ronnie Morris. (Unfortunately, Business Report, while giving the views of others, does not indicate Bawsi’s objections to the two directors.) Again, however, Bawsi’s associates within Phetogo are ‘not in favour of that’, acording to Phetogo chair Victor Christian.

The problem, it would seem, is that the troubled KWV empowerment deal might be threatened by a split within Phetogo. According to Business Report, Nosey Pieterse has said that unless something dramatic happened Phetogo would disintegrate, placing the KWV empowerment deal at risk.

• Click here for the report: Tiff imperils KWV's black partner
• Click here for the Business Report comment: KWV deals with one more storm in a brandy barrel