(Current Curriculum Vitae Mr JG Grabe)
Novtel Pty Ltd (see company registration) is a South African software and training company specializing in rental management solutions. With over 20 years of innovation, it has earned a global reputation for integrated products serving hospitality, property, vehicle hire, and equipment leasing.
Core Expertise
Relevance to the International Palm Society (IPS)
The founder’s experience with Novtel reflects a deep understanding of:
Eiland Punt Zuid Pty Ltd (see company registration) is the registered owner of three adjoining properties in Koingnaas, a coastal town in the arid Namakwaland region of South Africa’s Northern Cape. These properties are:
All three erven are zoned as Private Open Space,
allowing conservation, recreation, and supporting infrastructure. Since October 2021, over 250 Medjool date palms have been cultivated
on Erf 5, forming the base of a long-term propagation and agroforestry project. Thriving in the semi-arid climate,
they prove the viability of palm cultivation in this region.
To expand, we are acquiring a
1-hectare educational property erf 3
next to the plantation. This site will formalize training, research, and advanced propagation, becoming the nucleus of the
South African Palm Academy and Research Centre.
We seek funding from the
International Palm Society
to establish a hub for palm education, research, and conservation in Southern Africa. The initiative has four components:
a. South African Palm Academy:
A formal institution offering certified training in palm cultivation, agroforestry, and conservation.
Courses will cover biology, propagation, climate adaptation, and sustainable land use.
Beneficiaries include youth, farmers, and conservationists, with bilingual instruction in Afrikaans and English.
b. Palm Research Centre:
A facility focused on palms suited to arid climates, researching resilience, soil compatibility,
and water efficiency. In partnership with universities and research bodies, it will publish findings to
guide best practices globally.
c. Offshoot Incubation Facility:
A nursery for propagating Medjool and other cultivars through offshoots and suckers.
It will provide hands-on training, demonstrate propagation methods, and support community
cooperatives in establishing micro-plantations.
d. Tissue Culture Laboratory:
A micropropagation lab for cloning rare or high-value palms, enhancing diversity, conservation, and
commercial scalability. Equipped with growth chambers and sterilization systems,
it will be run by trained technicians.
e. Cloud-based Date Plantation Management System (DPMS):
To task Novtel software to develop over the next 5 years a Date Plantation Management System (DPMS).
This pioneering platform represents a major leap forward in agricultural technology, combining precision
farming with digital transformation to empower farmers at every level.
This initiative directly supports the International Palm Society’s (IPS) mission by:
The amount of $ 25,000 is requested
partial funding from the IPS is acceptable.
The figures provided are intended to give IPS a transparent overview of our long-term vision and strategic plan.
The Palm Foundation Africa is a multi-year initiative scheduled for phased implementation over five to seven years,
beginning in 2026 and concluding between 2032 and 2034.
Estimated Costs (USD)
Phase 1:
Phase 2:
Phase 3:
Total Cost From 2026 to 2034 - $428,000 (excluding the properties)
A comprehensive budget breakdown is provided for each component, including research, curriculum development, buildings, classrooms and laboratories:
Funding to date has been provided by Johan Grabe, Founder and CEO of
Novtel (Pty) Ltd and Eiland Punt Zuid (Pty) Ltd.
Between 2021 and 2025, Mr. Grabe personally contributed the majority of financial support.
Novtel is funding the development of a Date Palm Plantation Management System,
created to help emerging farmers manage plantations more effectively. Drawing on practical insights from
Eiland Punt Zuid, development began in 2025, with beta versions expected by late 2026.
The total cost is projected to exceed $200,000 over a five- to seven-year period.
This will be the world’s first computerized management system for date palm growers,
with research on Grog 4 confirming Novtel’s pioneering role in this field.
The South African Palm Academy and Research Centre will:
Johan Grabe
Eiland Punt Zuid Pty Ltd -
Bank account Details
Email: voorsitter@koingnaas.co.za
Phone: +27 83 305 9943
Location: Koingnaas,
Northern Cape,
South Africa
Johan Grabe, founder of Novtel Pty Ltd, has over 30 years of experience in software and training,
specializing in rental management systems. Novtel is also developing a cloud-based
Palm Management System to help farmers manage plantations more efficiently.
Through Eiland Punt Zuid Pty Ltd, Mr. Grabe owns land in Koingnaas, Northern Cape,
where more than 250 Medjool date palms have been successfully cultivated since 2021.
Building on this success, the project seeks to establish the
South African Palm Academy and Research Centre,
a hub for palm education, research, and conservation.
The initiative includes:
Funding of $25,000 is requested from the International Palm Society, though partial contributions toward this amount would also be welcomed. This request forms part of a broader phased plan totalling $428,000 (2026–2034), excluding the acquisition costs of properties Erfs 3, 5, 105, and 170. The project seeks to empower local communities, conserve biodiversity, and position Koingnaas as a global leader in palm research and education, thereby enhancing the IPS’s presence in Africa.
