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Casidra’s New Chief
Executive Officer
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Casidra is an implementing Agency for the Western Cape Department of Agriculture
Stefan Conradie, Casidra’s new Chief Executive Officer
he chairperson of the Board,
Adv. Gary Oliver visited the
head office on 1 November 2012 to
welcome the new Chief Executive
Officer, Stefan Conradie. During his
address to the head office staff,
the Chairperson of the Board asked
Casidra staff to welcome Conradie
and give him their full support
Adv. Oliver said, “We are very
fortunate to have Conradie as part
of the Casidra team because of his
expertise in the rural development
sector. His outstanding work in rural
development received a lot of praise
at the recent SCOPA meeting”.
Conradie introduced himself and
said, “I am very privileged and
excited to be part of the Casidra
team and I am looking forward to the
new challenge. As CEO I am ready to
steer the ship in the right direction
and I have a lot of ideas on how to
take this company forward. I want
Casidra to be recognised as one of
the most progressive and professional
government entities in the Western
Cape”.
Conradie was born and raised on
a family-owned fruit farm in the
Ceres region. He studied Agricultural
Economics until Honours level at
Stellenbosch University and later
also completed an MBA at the same
institution. Conradie started his
career at ABSA bank as an Agriculture
Economist and then moved to
Fruitways, a fruit export company,
as Marketing Manager. He then
joined Hortgro Services as Product
Manager for SA Pome and Stone fruit
for three years before taking up
the responsibility of Chief Director
Rural Development at the Western
Cape Department of Agriculture. He
is a happily married man and has a
beautiful 8 month old daughter.
Conradie concluded by saying
that “Working together as a team
Casidra will have a major impact on
the rural areas in the Western Cape.
Casidra has a lot of potential as an
organisation and it will be up to us
as a team to unlock that potential. I
am looking forward to work with all
stakeholders of Casidra”.
MANDATE: Agriculture and Economic Development within a Rural and Land Reform context
Merry Christmas
Vol 9 • Issue 2 • NOVEMBER 2012

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COrpOrATE EVENTS
INTErIM CEO LEAVES rEVIVED AND
HAppY FACES BEHIND
Carel du preez gives his last message to the Board and Management members
asidra staff and Board members had an opportunity to
bid farewell to the Interim CEO, Carel du Preez after
serving his sixteen months term successfully. The rest
of the Staff strongly believes that Mr du Preez certainly
made an impact during his time at Casidra and hope that
the changes which he has brought about will be carried
forward. He was thanked by the staff for bringing hope
during uncertain times.
The Chairperson of Casidra’s Board, Adv Gary Oliver
and CFO, Freek van Zyl, paid a special tribute on behalf
of the Board and Staff to the ICEO. In his speech, Du Preez
said that he will miss his involvement in an organisation
with such great potential. He encouraged all staff to
believe in themselves and make it happen by saying ‘Yes
We Can’!
Du Preez said “Casidra makes a difference to poverty &
inequality in South Africa and hopefully has succeeded in
charting a successful road ahead and in giving hope for the
future. By this time – all should be familiar with Casidra’s
destination – but getting there is in your hands”.
Du Preez says that he will be watching from the sideline,
and his vision for Casidra, is a company which retains
its competitive edge (not stifled by compliance issues);
retains its proud audit record; building its reputation as a
non-partisan project manager (integrating across silos’);
being a recognised rural development expert; being a
successful promoter of sustainable rural development;
with top expertise in project management; being the
solution for effective execution of programmes in the
public sector and being a key- and pro-active role-player
in sustainable empowerment and land reform in the
Western Cape.
Du Preez concluded that by highlighting a few challenges
ahead such as growing a culture of pro-active involvement
in rural development with agriculture as the primary driver;
playing a bigger role to ensure successful land reform in
the Western Cape; creating synergy between Provincial/
National departments and agencies; high quality project
execution as non-partisan project leaders in rural areas
and placing a marketing focus on municipalities, national
and provincial government and non-government agencies.
“I have no doubt that the motivation and goodwill
is there to build a really strong and unified team to
perform the important role that we all envisage for
Casidra. Thank you for the acceptance, support and
loyalty. All the best for the future and God bless!” he
ended.
VISION: The leading partner for development in resource poor communities.

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COrpOrATE EVENTS
CASIDrA MAINTAINS IT’S TrACk rECOrD
OF CLEAN AuDITS
The Board chairperson, Adv Oliver hands the Annual report to Minister van rensburg
he Executive Authority of
Casidra, Minister Gerrit van
Rensburg, once again congratulated
Casidra on the achievement of its
23rd clean audit during the Annual
General meeting held at the head
office.
In his speech, the minister said,
“We are reflecting over a period
that has posed challenges as well
as opportunities for Casidra. Those
challenges included the Department
of Economic Development and
Tourism down-scaling its involvement
in some of its traditional mandates.
This included the closure of RED Door
offices in many areas as well as the
termination of other programmes
which led to staff retrenchments”.
However, despite all those
challenges, the Minister emphasised
the fact that a new funding
arrangement has also been put into
place, whereby the Department
of Agriculture became the sole
institutional funder of Casidra. “All
other departments and clients will
be served on a full cost recovery
basis. The emphasis in Casidra’s
mandate on the economic side has
therefore, shifted to local economic
development facilitation in rural
areas within the agricultural sphere,
as well as in the CRDP”, said Minister
van Rensburg.
He said that Casidra’s close
working relationship with the
Department of Agriculture brought
many new opportunities, especially
in its ability to provide support
services regarding the Department’s
commodity approach, implementation
of the CRDP and farm worker
development. Minister van Rensburg
concluded by saying “Casidra
also lived up to its reputation for
accurate and fast disaster
compensation facilitation during the
period under review”.
The minister extended his vote
of thanks and appreciation to the
Board, Management team and
the entire staff of Casidra, for
providing the necessary support
to the Department of Agriculture.
He wished Casidra all the best for
the future. The day ended with
Casidra’s chairperson, Adv. Gary
Oliver, proudly presenting the
company’s 2012 Annual Report to
Minister van Rensburg. Casidra’s
Annual Report was also tabled
and accepted by the Standing
Committee on Public Accounts.
Casidra was further congratulated
by the chairperson of the Standing
Committee for the excellent work
done and for keeping a good track
record of clean audits!
MISSION: To facilitate growth and development, integration of development efforts, social cohesion
and poverty alleviation in rural areas in a sustainable way.
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SuCCESSFuL prOJECTS
COMprEHENSIVE rurAL DEVELOpMENT
prOgrAMME rOLLINg SuCCESSFuLLY
The LED Manager, Juan de Lora hands the mobile office to the new Business Advisor, Desmond Alie
ural Development has been named as one of the top five
priorities by the State President Jacob Zuma to be achieved.
To illustrate how serious he is about Rural Development,
a National Department of Rural Development and Land Reform
was established since his inauguration in 2009 to drive Rural
Development nationally, and the National Comprehensive Rural
Development Programme (CRDP) was announced.
The Western Cape Department of Agriculture carries the mandate
in the Province and established a new programme called Rural
Development Coordination to drive the CRDP. Dysselsdorp was
identified as the first rural development pilot project in the Western
Cape Province.
The approach is holistic in nature and involves the establishment
of an interdepartmental steering committee (ISC) for each rural
node as well as the organisational structuring of communities to
work closely with the steering committee.
The Dysselsdorp Interdepartmental Steering Committee (DISC)
was the first steering committee formed and started operating at
the start of 2010 and consists of representatives from all three
spheres of government which includes all provincial government
departments within the Western Cape. The Western Cape has taken
a unique approach to CRDP by organising the ISC into four work
streams being social facilitation, social upliftment, infrastructure
development and economic development. The responsibilities of
the ISC are to focus on defining the responsibilities of each
government department, creating cohesion and understanding
between different spheres of government, identifying potential
projects within the Dysselsdorp community and designing
processes to implement the projects working with the community
organisational structures.
According to the former Chief Director of Rural Development,
Stefan Conradie, very good progress has been made in this regard
and strong teams have emerged driving the planning actions of
each of the four individual work streams. The community of
Dysselsdorp welcomed this CRDP initiative and were willing to work
together with all the stakeholders involved. The development of a
standardised implementation framework document incorporating
the actions of all government in each ward brought a holistic and
organised approach to implementation to maximise the impact of
government services in the selected rural wards.
Conradie added that since starting with the that one of the
greatest achievements for this programme thus far, was to
successfully set up 10 rural development nodes as the service points
across the Western Cape Province. Organised community structures
have been established in each of the 10 rural nodes. They are as
follows:
• Oudtshoorn Municipality: Wards 9 & 10 – Dysselsdorp Council of
Stakeholders
• City of Cape Town Municipality: Ward 29 – Pella Council of
Stakeholders
• City of Cape Town Municipality: Ward 29 – Atlantis Council of
Stakeholders
• City of Cape Town Municipality: Ward 29 – Mamre Council of
Stakeholders
• Witzenberg Municipality: Ward 1 – Nduli Council of Stakeholders
• Witzenberg Municipality: Ward 4 – Prince Alfred Hamlet Council
of Stakeholders
• Witzenberg Municipality: Ward 6 – Bella Vista Council of
Stakeholders
• Matzikama Municipality: Ward 2 – Matzikama Council of
Stakeholders
• Beaufort West Municipality: Ward 1 – Murraysburg Council of
Stakeholders
• Bitou Municipality: Ward 4 – New Horizon Council of
Stakeholders
• Theewaterskloof Municipality – Villiersdorp Ward 5&6 Council of
Stakeholders
• Beaufort West Municipality: Ward 1 – Murraysburg Council of
Stakeholders
• Beaufort West Municipality: Ward 1 – Merweville Council of
Stakeholders
• Prins Albert Municipality: Ward 2 – Leeu Gamka Council of
Stakeholders
Casidra supports the rural nodes through various interventions
in terms of rural infrastructure, food security and economic
development on behalf of the Western Cape Department of
Agriculture. The Local Economic Development Manager, Juan de
Lora emphasized that two Business Advisors will be servicing all the
rural development nodes listed above. They will provide practical
“hands on” business advice and related services to existing and
potential entrepreneurs with special focus on co-operatives.
De Lora said “The first appointment of the Business Advisor for the
Southern Cape and Karoo regions has been made and we are in the
process of appointing the one for the Winelands and surrounding
regions.” For more information and services, the community are
encouraged to use the mobile offices in their regions alternatively
they can contact Casidra Head offices at Tel:021 863 5000 or
Email: crdp@casidra.co.za.
VISION: The leading partner for development in resource poor communities.

D
ie De Goree projek is gestig in 2004 met 116 lede.
Die BEE-vennoot besit 52% aandele en bestaan uit
die plaaswerkers van die plase Van Loveren en De Goree.
Hulle is in vennootskap met die 4 Retief-neefs van Van
Loveren, wat die oorblywende 48% aandele besit. Die plaas
is in die Robertson-distrik geleë en produseer hoofsaaklik
wyndruiwe. Produksie staan tans op ongeveer 900 ton
wyndruiwe per jaar.
Die De Goree projek is een van die BEE suksesverhale van
die Wes-Kaap en groei van krag tot krag. Dit is ook een van
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SuCCESSFuL prOJECTS
DIE DE gOrEE WYN prOJEk
he Tulbagh Rural Development Association is an
association of 15 farmers who secured property to
start the D’Agen crèche in their immediate area. This
property was previously used to dry fruit, particularly
prunes. Alterations were made to the existing building in
order to convert it into an early learning centre.
The establishment of the crèche was vitally important
for farm worker’s children because they had nowhere to
go while their parents were working on various farms in
the area. The D’Agen crèche is situated five kilometres
north of Tulbagh, adjacent to the Winterhoek road. This
location is fairly central and easily accessible by all farm
workers. The crèche caters for all pre-school children of
farm workers.
The Provincial Department of Agriculture partly funded
the crèche and Casidra was the implementing agency for
die min projekte wat al dividende aan die aandeelhouers
kan uitbetaal. Die Retief–neefs en ds Reggie Boesak
dien as die projek se mentors en word deur die BEE
projekbegunstigdes beskou as ‘n sleutel tot hul sukses.
‘n Bedrag van R409 000 is deur die Wyn CPAC goedgekeur
vir die aankope van ‘n trekker en spuitkar asook
kantoortoerusting in die vorm van ‘n nuwe rekenaar en
drukker. Casidra is die implementeringsagent en die
trekker en spuitkar is reeds aangekoop en gelewer aan
die projek.
D’ AgEN CrECHE
the project on behalf of the Department. Casidra sourced
the infrastructure, equipment and training and ensured
that the project was successfully completed on time.
This crèche is well established and has an excellent
management committee and employees. It offers various
services and opportunities such as an early learning
centre, school readiness, training, technical management,
financial management skills, life skills development as well
as sport and recreation.
According to Casidra’s Project Co-ordinator, Lynette
Neethling the crèche has made a huge difference in the
farming community. “The mere fact that mothers of young
children who attend the crèche are enabled to work
reduces poverty by increasing household income,” she
ended.
MISSION: To facilitate growth and development, integration of development efforts, social cohesion
and poverty alleviation in rural areas in a sustainable way.
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&BP Honey Business is a honey project situated in the
Kouebokkeveld area which is 45km away from Ceres in
Witzenburg Municipality. This project consists of four beneficiaries
(three males and one female) and has two temporary labourers
employed. The project involves farming with bee hives, with the
main focus on pollination. However honey is also extracted and used
for secondary business.
This project was funded by the Department of Agriculture through
their Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP) and
Casidra, an official project management agency for the Department
was appointed to implement the project according to the business
plan. A 1.3 ton truck, bee hives with bees, diesel and protective
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SuCCESSFuL prOJECTS
ittersoetHoney Business is situated 45km away from Ceres
(Witzenburg Municipality) in the Kouebokkeveld area.
Bittersoet Honey Business consists out of four beneficiaries (three
males and one female).The project farms with bee hives, with the
main focus on pollination; however honey is also extracted and used
fora secondary business.
According to the production manager, Willem Jansen has extensive
experience with bees and he has been working with them for twelve
years.The second beneficiary, the foreman, has also been working
with bees for five years.
A&Bp HONEY BuSINESS
clothing was procured for the project and successfully handed to
the beneficiaries.
According to Khaya Dzula, the Project Manager of Casidra, this
project has lots of potential and is very sustainable. He says…”we
have played a very important role to ensure that the project is
implemented on time without any delays.
The project supplies their product to local businesses.During off
season, they keep the bee hives at the Du Toit Family Trust land at
no cost and the trust benefits from this by getting the pollination
services at a lesser price than other clients when the season starts.
If you wish to support this business, feel free to contact Anna Smith,
Tel: 023 317 0857; Mobile 0786070655.
BITTErSOET HONEY BuSINESS
During off season, the project keeps the bee hives at Knapdaar Farm
at no cost and the farmer benefits from this by getting the pollination
services at a lesser price than other clients when the season starts.
Casidra successfully implemented this project on behalf of the
Department of Agriculture. A 1.3 ton truck, bee hives with bees and
protective clothing was procured and an amount of R500 000 was
spent at the completion of the project.
If you want to support this business, feel free to contact the
Gert Pedro, Mobile 0784616386
VISION: The leading partner for development in resource poor communities.

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SuCCESSFuL prOJECTS
WOrLD FOOD DAY 2012
he Provincial Department of Agriculture has recently
celebrated the World Food Day at Bella Vista in the Ceres
area. This is an annual event that is celebrated along with other
countries in the world. The purpose of the World Food Day is to
heighten public awareness of the world food problem and strengthen
solidarity in the struggle against hunger, malnutrition and poverty.
The theme for 2012 was “Agricultural co-operatives - key to
feeding the world”.
In 2012, the Department of Agriculture, through its Farmer
Support and Development Programme mandated Casidra to
implement the 63 Food Gardens project in Bella Vista, Witzenberg
as part of the World Food Day event. This area is one of the
poorest communities in the Witzenberg Municipality area due to its
high unemployment rate and poverty.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Western
Cape, Gerrit van Rensburg started his day by visiting some of the
63 food gardens before the proceedings of the main event which
was held in the sports ground of Bella Vista. He was accompanied
by several stakeholders who included the Executive Mayor of
Witzenberg Municipality.
In his speech, Minister van Rensburg said, “we live in times
when people are flocking to our cities in the belief that there are
more opportunities for them there. This is turning our rural areas
into traps of poverty, as job opportunities and basic services are
concentrated in our larger towns and cities. But this trend does not
have to continue forever. Rural South Africa has an abundance of
resources and the people of our rural towns have unlimited potential
for development”.
Minister van rensburg visits community gardens in Bella Vista
Furthermore, the Minister emphasised that the Western Cape
Government wants to create the environment where there will be
many opportunities; also in our rural areas. “We know that if people
are given an opportunity to improve their lives, there is nothing on
earth that is going to prevent them from grabbing it. It is in our
human nature”..
Minister van Rensburg further emphasized that the ability to
feed yourself and your family is the first step towards a better life.
It is the first opportunity you can grab in order to start the long
journey towards fulfilling your destiny. A food garden can be the
beginning of a successful commercial farm. The human spirit knows
no boundaries, and a small backyard garden can become a large
farm.
Minister concluded, “A co-operative works on the principle that
when people work together; they are much stronger than when the
individuals work on their own. This principle is the foundation on
which all our rural development initiatives are based. A community
that can work together towards a goal is unstoppable. A divided
community remains weak and goes nowhere. It is my wish for the
community of Bella Vista that you will be united in your efforts for
progress and rural development. Because when we work together,
we do things better together”.,.
He also handed over food parcels that were donated by the
Western Cape Food Bank and South African Breweries to the
organisations that qualified for the food parcels. Three organisations
had received the food parcels, Sisonke Service Centre in Nduli,
Selfsorg Centre in P A Hamlet and “Moses se Mandjie” in Bella
Vista.
MISSION: To facilitate growth and development, integration of development efforts, social cohesion
and poverty alleviation in rural areas in a sustainable way.
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CASIDrA WENS DIE AMALIENSTEIN
pLAASWErkErS gELuk
L-r: Stefan Conradie, CEO, Salomie April, Award Winner, george Bell, Fruit Manager and Experience Matshediso, pr/Communications Manager
asidra se Hoof Uitvoerende
Beampte, Stefan Conradie, het die
Amalienstein plaaswerkers geluk gewens
wat goed gevaar het by die afgelope
Plaaswerker van die Jaar kompetisie wat
gehou is by CTICC. Die baie suksesvolle
jaarlikse geleentheid is deur Departement
Landbou gereël en geborg deur Shoprite.
Salomie April het die prys ontvang vir
die Wes-Kaap Administratiewe Beampte
van die jaar. Sy was eerste uit twaalf
distrikswenners in die kategorie. Salomie
was vol trane en oorstelp van vreugde en
het gesê “Ek is baie trots op myself oor
wat ek bereik het gedurende die twee jaar
wat ek op die plaas werksaam is”.
George Bell was ‘n distrikswenner
wat gekompeteer het in die
seniorbestuursafdeling. Hoewel George
nie sy kategorie gewen het nie bly dit ‘n
uitsonderlike prestasie. Hy was ook vroeër
aangewys as die Klein Karoo distrik se
plaaswerker van die jaar.
Conradie het Salomie en George bedank
vir hul deelname aan die kompetisie.
“Hulle het ons uitstekend verteenwoordig
en ek is trots wat hulle bereik het. Dit
getuig van goeie werk, toewyding en die
wil om jouself te ontwikkel”.
Conradie het beklemtoon plaaswerkers
op Anhalt en Waaikraal ook aangespoor
moet word om in die toekoms ook deel te
neem aan hierdie kompetisie. “Ek wil ook
my waardering uitspreek teenoor al die
Casidra plaaswerkers wat deel
geneem het”.
Die Burgermeester van kanneland munisipaliteit, Jeffrey Johnson het Salomie April geluk gewens met haar prestasie
Dear readers,
Let me take this opportunity to wish you a wonderful festive season. I hope you will enjoy your holiday with your families
and friends. Travel safely and remember, Don’t drink and drive!
Please forward us your ideas and comments on how we can improve or what you would like to read about in our CeeDee
News. Experience Matshediso
The Editor, Experience Matshediso
Tel: 021 863 5000 • Email: info@casidra.co.za • website: www.casidra.co.za
Die volgende Amalienstein werknemers
het plekke behaal in die Plaaswerker van
die jaar in die Klein Karoo distrik:
George Bell, Senior bestuur, 1ste Plek;
Salomie April, Administratiewe, 1ste Plek;
Olga Johannes, Junior bestuur, 2de Plek;
Jan Andreas, Diere Produksie, 2de Plek;
Jerome Sass, Diere Produksie, 3de Plek;
Jan Barry, Trekker Drywer, 2de Plek;
Paulina Davids, Tegniese Operateur, 2de Plek;
Aldrin Galant, Besproeiing Tegnikus, 2de
Plek; Liticha Fortuin, Spesiale Toekenning/
GO; en Amalienstein Boerdery Sertifikaat
vir Positiewe Bydrae tot Plaaswerker
Ontwikkeling.
MANDATE: Agriculture and Economic Development within a Rural and Land Reform context