Williston Abattoir

About Williston Abattoir

WILLISTON

The picturesque town of Williston, located in the heart of the Hardemanskaroo, is rich in community life, culture and history. On 10 July 1768 Johan Abraham Nel of Stellenbosch planted an almond tree near a fountain at the banks of the Sak River to commemorate the birth of his son. This tree developed into an oasis where Johann Heinrich Lutz of the Rhenish Missionary Society founded the missionary station Amandelboom near the Singkoppies in 1845. Under British rule the missionary station was renamed in recognition of the former British Colonial Secretary, Sir Hampden Willis.

The relatively secluded area is characterised by a rich community and cultural life where people of diverse backgrounds are dependent on one another. The seclusion is physically evident in the unique gravestone route and the corbelled houses of the region. The area is also the habitat of the very rare and endangered riverine rabbit.  

The relatively low rain fall of the region makes it ideal for extensive disease-free cattle farming, with the dorper, merino and other indigenous breeds as the primary sheep breeds. The natural Karoo bush habitat, including species such as Bushman grass, sheep’s bush, bitou, ganna, wild rosemary and rock lizard bush, provides a unique flavour to meat from this area. The Williston agricultural community takes pride in owning and managing its own co-op with the aim of providing the connoisseur with flavourful, healthy red meat of the highest quality.

WILLISTON ABATTOIR

In February 2002, Williston Vleiskoöperasie took over the abattoir in co-operation with Farmers Direct Marketing (Pty) Ltd on a 50/50 basis. The co-op was responsible for providing livestock, while FDM was responsible for marketing the meat in the Cape Town metro.

In 2006, Williston Vleiskoöperasie and 26 of its shareholders and suppliers bought FDM’s share in the Williston Abattoir, which was refitted to handle the processes of a modern abattoir. Shareholding has since increased to include 50 private shareholders, with the management shared between Williston Vleiskoöperasie and the board of Williston Abattoir (Pty) Ltd.

Livestock for the abattoir is sourced by the co-op as well as independent agents in Williston and surrounding areas. Marketing of carcasses is done by the management team of the co-op and the abattoir together with agents. Currently, distribution is mainly to Durban and surrounding areas.

Williston, as part of the Karoo Highlands municipality, is a central role-player in the creation and marketing of the Karoo Meat of Origin brand. As a supplier of some 100 000 carcasses per year, Williston Abattoir has registered the Karusaf brand. A new processing plant was opened where carcasses are processed, packaged and frozen. These carcasses adhere to the very specific requirements of Karoo Meat of Origin and are marketed under the Karusaf brand, mainly in Gauteng and the Western Cape. 

WILLISTON 

Die skilderagtige dorpie Williston, geleë in die hart van die Hardemanskaroo, is ryk aan gemeenskapslewe, kultuur en geskiedenis. Op 10 Julie 1768 het Johan Abraham Nel van Stellenbosch ’n amandelboom by ’n fontein aan die oewer van die Sakrivier geplant ná die geboorte van sy seun. Dié boom het in ’n oase ontwikkel waar Johann Heinrich Lutz van die Rhynse sendinggenootskap in 1845 die sendingstasie Amandelboom aan die voet van die Singkoppies tot stand gebring het. Onder Britse bewind is die sendingstasie in 1919 herdoop om erkenning te gee aan Sir Hampden Willis, die voormalige Britse Koloniale Sekretaris.

Die relatiewe afsondering van die omgewing onderlê ’n ryke gemeenskaps- en kultuurlewe waar mense van verskillende agtergronde op mekaar aangewese is. Die afgesonderdheid word fisiek vergestalt deur die unieke grafsteenroete en korbeelhuise van die omgewing.  Die gebied is ook die habitat van die baie skaars en bedreigde oewerkonyn (riverine rabbit). 

Die relatief lae reënval van die omgewing maak dit ideaal geskik vir uitgebreide siektevrye veeboerdery met dorper, merino en ander inheemse rasse as die primêre skaaprasse. Die natuurlike Karoobossie-habitat, wat bestaan uit spesies soos boesmangras, skaapbos, bitou, ganna, kapokbos en koggelmandervoet, gee aan vleis uit die streek ’n unieke, geurige smaak. Die Williston-boerderygemeenskap vind trots in die besit en bestuur van hul eie koöperasie waardeur gestreef word om smaaklike, gesonde rooivleis van hoogstaande gehalte aan elke fynproewer te lewer.

WILLISTON ABATTOIR

Williston Vleiskoöperasie het die abattoir in Februarie 2002 in samewerking met Farmers Direct Marketing (Edms) Bpk op ’n 50/50-basis oorgeneem. Die koöperasie het die lewering van lewende hawe behartig, terwyl FDM verantwoordelik was vir die vleisbemarking in die Kaapse metropool.

In 2006 het Williston Vleiskoöperasie saam met 26 van sy aandeelhouers en produsente FDM se belang in Williston Abattoir uitgekoop en die abattoir in ’n moderne slagfasiliteit omskep. Die aandeelhouding is intussen uitgebrei na 50 privaat-aandeelhouers, maar die beheer en bestuur van die abattoir word deur Williston Vleiskoöperasie en die direksie van Williston Abattoir (Edms) Bpk behartig.

Lewende hawe vir die abattoir word deur die koöperasie, asook onafhanklike agente in Williston en omliggende distrikte gewerf. Die bemarking van die karkasse word deur die bestuur van die koöperasie en die abattoir in samewerking met agente gedoen. Die hoof-afsetpunt in hierdie stadium is Durban en omgewing.

Williston, as deel van die Karoo-Hoogland-munisipaliteit, is ’n sentrale rolspeler in die vestiging en bemarking van die Karoo Meat of Origin-handelsmerk.  As die verskaffer van ongeveer 100 000 karkasse per jaar, het Williston Abattoir die Karusaf-handelsmerk geregistreer. ’n Nuwe verwerkingsaanleg is opgerig waarin karkasse opgesaag, verpak en gevries word. Hierdie karkasse voldoen aan die hoë vereistes van Karoo Meat of Origin en word onder die Karusaf -handelsmerk hoofsaaklik in Gauteng en die Wes-Kaap bemark.