A tribute to Ernest du Toit

On 31 December 2019, the Rooibos industry was shaken by the passing of Ernest du Toit. Ernest served on the SA Rooibos Council’s board as the marketing director since 2015 to 2018 and shared his skills in marketing, sales and strategy development with vigour.

He was the CEO of Annique Health and Beauty since 2008 and firmly believed in the opportunities of the direct selling industry as way for people to lift their self-limiting beliefs and to provide a vehicle for thousands of people to achieve their dreams. Ernest also played a fundamental role in the negotiation processes leading to the signing of an Access and Benefit-sharing (ABS) agreement between the Rooibos Industry and the Khoi-Khoi and San. Hamba kahle Ernest, we thank you for your unprecedented legacy.