'n WERKSWINKEL oor Vaardigheidsheffings (Skills Levy) en hoe dit teruggeëis kan word na beplande opleiding, is deur die Franschhoek Kampus van Boland Kollege gehou.

By dié geleentheid het Claire Bennette van Laker & Le Roux Menslike Hulpbronne, die Wet op Vaardigheidsontwikkeling en die implikasies van die Vaardigheidsheffing wat teruggeëis kan word na opleiding, verduidelik.

Adolf Joubert (kampushoof) het beklemtoon dat Boland Kollege graag na die opleidingsbehoeftes van die kontrei wil omsien.

Met hierdie doel voor oë, wil hy graag met verskeie rolspelers in die omgewing skakel en nooi hulle uit om met die Boland Kollege kontak te maak sodat opleiding wat hierdie behoeftes aanspreek spesiaal ontwerp kan word.

Daar word veral gekyk na opleiding in Toerisme, die Gasvryheids- en Spysenieringsbedryf, asook opleiding vir die formele landbou- en sakesektore.

THE process towards the formation of a national network of burial societies - the South African Federation of Burial Societies (SAFOBS) - is an initiative of the National Co-operative Association of South Africa (NCASA).

On 20 and 21 March the National Committee on Burial Societies met in Johannesburg to decide on its programme of action for 2003.

Through the National Committee on Burial Societies, comprised of representatives of burial societies from various provinces, Ncasa is facilitating the process for the launch of Safobs.

Co-operation among burial societies will strengthen and expand the services they provide to their members. The new South African Federation of Burial Societies (SAFOBS) is an initiative in this direction.

Safobs could provide services like training and information, legal representation, dispute resolution, public policy engagement and insurance..

The National Committee on Burial Societies plans to launch branches of Safobs in June with a national launch/conference in November.

For any further information, contact Tebogo Phadu (NCASA) on 083-601-4397, Mandisa Mbele (National Committee on Burial Societies) on 082-699-9473, or Lawrence Maduma (Western Cape) on 082-628-8976. You can also write to the National Co-operative Association of South Africa (NCASA), PO Box 14074, Hatfield 0028, tel (012) 349-1382, Fax (012) 349-1430.

DESPITE an overcast day with intermittend rain which challenged the organisers for the first time in the 29 year history of the Nederburg wine auction in Paarl, the fashions were a feast for the eyes and wines to the tune of R7,5 million were auctioned - a new record.

Umbrellas and raincoats did not dampen a fun-filled day for 1600 guests with many people dressed to impress to complement the contemporary colours theme of the auction this year.

The new-look auction with the fashion lounges and the Nederburg SA Designer Collections fashion show kept guests from 32 countries entertained.

A new record of R7,5 million rand was paid for the wines uactioned, 7% more than last year. Altogether R322 000 was raised for the Hospice Association in the charity auction.

At the novel celebrity show in aid of Mothers 2 Mothers, a support programme for HIV positive women, another R116 000 was raised.

Among the prizes auctioned for charity was a morning or afternoon cricket clinic by brothers Peter, Gary, Andrew and Paul Kirsten, which was purchased by Susan Huxter of Le Quartier Francais for R7000.

Another local buyer was Theo van den Berg of Paarlberg BMW who paid R2000 for a meal for 20 people created by five top chefs including Margot Janse of Le Quartier Francais.

The top ten buyers bought nearly half the wines on offer, with wholesale giant Makro taking over the top slot from the Spar retail group. Makro bought 801 cases for R702 000, accounting for 9% of total sales and Pick 'n Pay, the second biggest buyer, bought 964 cases for R645 740 and accounting for more than 8%.

Ledecky bought 259 cases totalling R435 810, which did not include his closing bid of R140 000 on the single case of six 750 ml bottles of Lanzerac Pinotage 1966 that were later donated to charity.

Other buyers included The Butcher Shop and Grill of Sandton, Metcash, Shoprite/Checkers, the Cape Town Fish Market, Cybercellar, Big Five Duty Free and the Heinitzburg Hotel in Namibia, which bought twice as much as last year.

Red wine prices went up 9%, dry white wines 4%, semi-sweet wines 11%, noble late harvest wines 10%, port 33% and sparkling wines up 26%.

The highest price paid for red wine was the opening bid - R7 000 for six bottles of Lanzerac Pinotage 1968, with the average price being R1 423 for a 9-litre case.

The highest price for white wine was R1 250 for six bottles of Iona Sauvignon Blanc 2001, making its debut on the auction. The average price for dry whites was R712 for a 9-litre case.

The highest price for a Noble Late Harvest wine was R6 600 for six bottles of Klein Constantia Vin de Constance 1986, double what was paid for the 1987 vintage on the 2001 auction. The average NLH price was R1 756 for a 9-litre case.

The highest price for port was R7 400 for 6 bottles of Monis Collectors Port 1948 (Stamp Collection), for the second consecutive year - nearly three times higher than last year when it went for R2 700. The average price for port was R1 125 for a 9-litre case.

The highest price paid for fortified wine was R410 for six bottles of Nuy Red Muscadel 1996, the same price paid last year for the Nuy White Muscadel 1994.The average price for fortified wine was R533 for a 9-litre case.

The highest price for sparkling wine was R740 for a three litre bottle of MCC Sparkling Pongracz 1992, whose 1990 vintage went for R680 last year. The average price for sparkling wine was R899 for a 9-litre case.

Veteran auctioneer Patrick Grubb has since inception of the auction in 1975 knocked down more than 240 000 cases of wine to the value of R75m.

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