The National Wool Grower’s Associations of South Africa (NWGA) was founded during a Wool Conference in Middleburg on 26 May 1926 to collectively represent the wool farmers in the country and to work together to improve all aspects of the industry. Since then, the NWGA has developed into a countrywide organization, consisting of 6 Area Branches and a membership base of more than 4 500 commercial and 20 000 communal members.
The NWGA is a mechanism for wool farmers to have a close link with the institutions that buy and process their wool; with government programmes and policies that impact on their industry; with universities and research institutes; and with wool farmers and organisations all over the world.
The Eastern Cape Branch produce the most wool in die country about 35% of South Africa’s clip. That is 15 million kilograms of wool per annum.
The mission of the National Woolgrowers’ Association of SA (NWGA) is to promote profitable and sustainable wool sheep production. Our motto is more sheep more wool!
The mission is supported by the following objectives:
1. The promotion of an improved policy – and legislative environment.
2. The creation of an effective production environment.
3. The accomplishment of an improved market environment.
4. The accomplishment of an empowered institutional environment in support of the wool industry.
The Voice of the Wool farmer on various platforms, including policy and legislation, through:
• Agri EC and Agri South Africa
• Predation Management Forum (PMF)
• Animal Health Forum (AHF)
• Stock Theft Forum
• Providing a Production Advisory Service of which the production of Sustainable Wool Audits forms a very important part.
The NWGA has credibility with the national, provincial, and local government structures, organised agriculture as well as international role-players such as the IWTO, development trusts, and producer organisations in other wool producing countries such as Australia and New Zealand. The network is a big advantage to its members.
The NWGA is also an accredited service provider with Agri SETA, providing training in wool sheep production to farmers and farm workers in the commercial and emerging farming sectors. The training of most of South Africa’s shearers are also done by the NWGA.
Leadership
Chairman: Niel du Preez – Kareedouw
E-mail: nielessenbos@gmail.com
Tel: +27 72 126 5950
Vice Chairman: Niel van Pletzen – Jamestown
E-mail: niel@nokwi.co.za
Tel: +27 72 569 3539
Contact details of the office
Lynette van der Walt
Tel: +27 (0) 49 802 6734
Email: lynettevdw@nwga.co.za