- Contributions assist more than 100 Agri Securitas Trust Fund projects
- Projects benefits various farming communities
ROSSLYN, SOUTH AFRICA – Crime-threatened farming communities in the Eastern Cape can sleep a little easier, thanks to the installation of boom gates that control entry and exit points in rural farming areas.
This is just one example of a variety of safety measures provided by the Agri Securitas Trust Fund, which aims to improve rural safety amongst South Africa's farming communities.
Nissan became a strategic Agri Securitas Trust Fund partner 14 years ago, shortly after the Fund's establishment by Agri SA in 1999. This followed the 1998 Rural Safety Summit, which proposed that a Rural Safety Strategy be developed to address the high levels of crime in South Africa's farming communities. Private organisations, such as Agri SA decided to start their own initiatives to combat rural crime and attacks on the farming community.
Marinus Venter, Nissan South Africa's marketing product manager, says that Nissan's involvement is the company's way of giving back to one of its most valued customer markets. We are now in discussions with Agri SA to negotiate a new agreement to further strengthen our relationship with the organization and the Trust Fund.
"Our 4X4 and light commercial vehicle range – especially the Nissan Navara and NP300 Hardbody - are sturdy workhorses renowned for quality, durability and reliability. As such, they are ideally suited for a variety of farming applications, which makes them especially attractive to farmers. In making a contribution for each Nissan vehicle purchased by a customer from organised agriculture, we are able to make a significant impact on the Agri Securitas Trust Fund, which relies largely on corporate sponsorship", says Venter.
"Corporate contributions, such as Nissan's, together with our own fund-raising efforts, enable us to achieve our objectives," says Agri Securitas Trust Fund chairman Japie Grobler. Through our provincial organisations, which are affiliated to Agri SA, we make financial contributions to farming communities to reduce rural crime, ranging from murder and stock theft to robbery of personal valuables and farming equipment."
The Trust's funds are allocated to support more than 100 crime-prevention projects, which provide greater security to the farming community as well as farm workers. Initiatives include radio communication systems, infrared cameras, hi-tech livestock monitoring equipment, information-gathering alerts and counselling.
"Nissan recognises the importance of a secure environment in ensuring a thriving agricultural industry. We are proud to be associated with the Agri Securitas Trust Fund, which plays a vital role in the sustainable growth of the sector and job security for both farmers and their employees," says Venter.
The success of the Agri Securitas Trust Fund initiatives also relies on a collaborative effort by a number of law enforcement parties. "We work with the South African Police Service in formulating policy and establishing processes to be implemented at local level," says Grobler. "Complementing SAPS support is the involvement of reservists, volunteers and farm watch patrols, whose participation is also instrumental in deterring criminal activity."
With an established reputation for having the largest LCV product range in the country, supported by one of the most extensive countrywide dealership networks – with numerous accolades in aftersales service - Nissan SA is pleased to continue its long-standing association with the Agri Securitas Trust Fund.
# # #
