Our Mission :

CANEGROWERS will lead, protect and serve the interests of cane growers

Our Business objectives :

• Ensure that cane growers receive fair value for their sugar cane.
• Provide cane growers with relevant research, data and support services to facilitate successful farming regions.
• Ensure that CANEGROWERS is recognised by all stakeholders as the duly mandated and effective representative of all cane growers in South Africa.

The South African Sugar Industry

The South African sugar industry operates as a partnership between growers and millers and is governed by the Sugar Act and Sugar Industry Agreement. CANEGROWERS represents the interests of growers in the industry partnership through the Council of the South African Sugar Association and its representatives serve on the many industrial committees which report to the Council.


At a representative level, CANEGROWERS acts as the mouthpiece for growers on the South African Sugar Association, an independent organisation which facilitates the partnership between growers and millers.

Representatives elected by CANEGROWERS manage one of the largest agro-industrial enterprises in South Africa ensuring equitable distribution of the proceeds arising from the growing, milling and marketing of sugar and its by-products on local and international markets; and contribute generously towards the sugar industry's extensive social responsibility activities.

CANEGROWERS' Representative Structures

The strength of CANEGROWERS lies in its democratic structure of representation which provides for equitable representation of all growers. Growers are organised into 271 Local Associations who in turn are accommodated within 26 member organisations and 13 Local Grower Councils. Individual growers are not direct members of CANEGROWERS but obtain representation through one of the member organisations.

Individual growers are free to join any member organisation of CANEGROWERS operating in their cane supply areas.

Each member organisation appoints delegates to the Local Grower Council which in turn appoints members to the Board of Directors of CANEGROWERS. The Board appoints annually a Chairman, Vice Chairman and an Executive Committee, who hold office until the next Annual General Meeting.

As an enhancement to this structure, CANEGROWERS promotes and supports the integration of all growers into one unified body at the Local Grower Council level. This has already happened in five of the thirteen  mill areas.

2010/11 Executive Committee

At the Annual General Meeting held on 17 June 2010 the following members were elected to the Executive Committee of CANEGROWERS for 2010/11.

Members of the Executive Committee serve a one year term of office and are elected at each Annual General Meeting.

How CANEGROWERS operates

In determining the policy of CANEGROWERS, the Board of Directors takes cognisance of the general well being of all cane growers. The setting of policy begins at the grassroots level where issues are raised and considered at the local member organisation level. The views of the members are considered by the Local Grower Council which mandates its representatives appointed to the Board to represent these at meetings of the Board. The Executive Committee has the responsibility to oversee the implementation of the policy determined by the Board.

Local Grower Councils should meet at least quarterly. The Board meets five times a year. Between Board meetings, the Executive Committee meets monthly. In addition, Grower representatives participate in the many industrial committee meetings which make recommendations to the Council of SASA.

How CANEGROWERS is funded

A budget to meet the administrative and operational requirements of CANEGROWERS is compiled internally and subjected to rigorous approval process. The Board considers and approves a budget for recommendation to the Annual General Meeting in June.

Once approved, the funds are collected during the year by a levy based on sugar sales and deducted from Growers share of sugar and molasses proceeds.

Who is CANEGROWERS

CANEGROWERS is the national organisation which represents South Africa's  47  000 private cane growers. The organisation was established on 9 August 1927 following a general consensus amongst the growers at the time that one organisation should be formed to look after the interests of all private cane growers. It was registered on 23 November 1928 as an Association Incorporated Not for Gain in terms of Section 21 of the Companies Act and has continued to function in this capacity to date.

What Services do CANEGROWERS provide

CANEGROWERS will lead, protect and serve the interests of cane growers by :

• Providing specialised services, supported by technical and economic research.
• Enhancing agricultural, economic and institutional capacity through skills development support and mentorship.
• Representing the collective body of all cane growers in all relevant forums.
• Lobbying, advocacy and communication with stakeholders.
• Utilising limited resources to maximum effect within CANEGROWERS' business objectives.

CANEGROWERS’ Resources

CANEGROWERS is headed by an Executive Director, Mr DB Wayne and is structured into four divisions. The administration and secretarial function of CANEGROWERS, which includes the development of CANEGROWERS organisational structures, as well as the financial affairs and human resources matters of CANEGROWERS, reports directly to the Executive Director.

Industrial Affairs Division

Is responsible for CANEGROWERS’ involvement in the industry partnership, which includes the division of proceeds, calculation of the RV price, marketing of sugar, molasses and sugar transport issues. Other services are to provide technical advice and information on cane testing, cane quality and the sugar milling process.

 Regional Services Division

Includes  the ten regional offices and is responsible for the grower development and empowerment programme operated by CANEGROWERS and financed through various funding organisations. Staff of the division are responsible for identifying, formulating and managing project proposals. In addition, regional services engages with the South African Sugarcane Research Institute on extension and research and development issues.

Regional offices are conveniently located within the five main cane growing areas. The regional offices provide economic and technical advice and support to the grower organisation structures as well as farm business advisory services to individual growers.  Each regional office is manned by a Regional Manager, a Regional Economic Advisor and a Grower Support Officer.

Corporate Relations Division

The Corporate Relations Division is responsible for CANEGROWERS’ corporate image and identity, stakeholder interaction, communication strategy, Public Relations activities as well as the Information Technology system.

Economic Affairs Division

Is responsible for the CaneFarms Accounting services, the economic well-being of growers and agricultural liaison, with a wide range of private sector and Government organisations. Various surveys and statistical functions are undertaken in order to maintain a reliable and credible data base. The information obtained for surveys is vital the agricultural liaison function.