NEWS
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
In Memory of Mark Watters
By John Ackermann
M
ention Elite Fibre and
immediately the name Mark
Watters springs to mind.
In October 1999, Watters, together with
Sanet van Rhyn, Shawn Mulder and Mark
Christians, set up Elite Fibre in Montague
Gardens, Cape Town, as a repair shop
for Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) vehicle
bodies.
From a small business, with a staff of only
10, it grew to a national operation with
branches in Johannesburg, Durban and
Port Elizabeth. At one time Mark was even
contemplating a branch in Mauritius.
“Mark taught me much in the 18 years
that I worked by his side and I will always
be grateful for the opportunity to have
spent so much time with such a great man.
The industry has lost a legend, never to be
forgotten,” says Sanet van Rhyn.
Often, he was more daring in his
innovations and accepting new challenges,
than his peers were able to understand.
Sadly, his health took a bad turn in 2015
and for a short while he withdrew from
business, but not for long and he returned
with renewed energy. He enjoyed boating,
and after Elite Fibre closed, he ventured into
operating pleasure catamarans and jet skis
near his home in Langebaan.
Watters had an adventurous life and
always wanted to be the best in whatever
he tried. In his office at Elite Fibre, he
proudly displayed photos of when, as
a racehorse trainer, he trained winners
of the premier Durban July race. From
being a trainer of racehorses, he joined
Johan Kriek, as a salesman at Chereau
vehicle body builders in the old Transnet
Workshops in Salt River. It was at Chereau
that he planted his roots into the GRP body
building industry.
Watters travelled widely to whet
his appetite for innovation and new
concepts in GRP bodies. “He was very
loyal and committed to the industry.
Mark was a go-getter and once he
made up his mind to do something,
nothing would change his mind. Mark
made a massive impact on the industry
and although he was no longer active
in the GRP business, he will be long
remembered,” says Mark Christians.
He could survive on little sleep and
his colleagues often struggled to keep
pace with his thirst for having a good
time. Mark was not afraid of hard work,
but also played to the fullest. He had a
close relationship with his mother and was
deeply saddened by her death a few
years back.
Because of his adventurous nature, he
made many friends which was evident by
the large crowd that met in his honour at
Langebaan on Friday 20 December 2019.
Sadly, although he had many friends,
he was alone when he passed away at
his home in Langebaan at the age of 62
years. He often looked stern, but when he
laughed, he lit up all those around him.
Many will remember his laughter and the
good times they shared with him.
Mark Watters, born 26 November 1957,
died: 15 December 2019.
Our sympathy goes to his brother Garth,
sister Hillary and their families.
Mark Watters, may you rest in
peace. CLA
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
New Zealand cautious of meat exports
following Coronavirus outbreak
N
ew Zealand farmers are worried continue to assess our options daily.” Procuring, processing and marketer the virus outbreak has reduced red
about the impact of the coronavirus According to the farm, the virus of red meat products Alliance Group, meat consumption in China, primarily in
after talk of reducing meat meant Chinese businesses, ports say meat processing has not been restaurants, and there was downward
processing due to cold storage shortages. and government departments were affected by storage issues, but general pressure on prices.
In an email, one farm warned that operating at restricted capacity, so it manager, livestock Danny Hailes says congestion at Chinese ports caused was having to hold product destined
by the health emergency had put for China in New Zealand. Beef and
considerable pressure on New Zealand lamb had been diverted to alternative
cold storage space. Going forward the markets, but there were few options for
farm would reduce mutton processing mutton because China was the main
in the ‘very short term’ to minimise the market globally.
The World Health Organisation (WHO)
its plants – alarming news for drought- has recorded 6 000 confirmed cases of
stricken farmers wanting to cull stock to coronavirus in China, over 900 deaths at
conserve feed. the time of writing, and a further
Chief executive at the farm, Simon
9 239 suspected cases. Efforts to curb
Limmer says that production was back infection rates have seen widespread
on track after finding extra cold storage, restrictions on travel in China and the
but he admitted problems related to the closure of many food outlets, measures
virus were not over. “This is a dynamic which saw the rock lobster industry halt
and changing situation and we will exports to China.
COLD LINK AFRICA •
March/April 2020
CLA
future risk of significant stoppages at
Source: Stuff Magazine
According to a farm in New Zealand, the virus meant Chinese businesses, ports and
government departments were operating at restricted capacity.
www.coldlinkafrica.co.za
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