The first snow of the year fell in July. It reminds us again of purity, perfection, beauty and a new beginning. May you experience this as we enter the new term.
At the Training Center we also experienced a little MAGIC of gold and glitter during our exciting Afrikaans Leaders' Day and Youth Day celebrations.
More fresh news can be read below. Look out for the new upcoming courses too.

On Wednesday 25 June we hosted a successful Leaders' day in collaboration with Food 4 Mzanzi. This day was attended by 80 leaders from different farms. The students enthusiastically gave feedback on what they had learned, from leadership, effective communication and gratitude to practical skills such as safe handling of chemicals and use of safety equipment. They look forward to applying this knowledge with confidence in their workplace and making a meaningful difference. The day was experienced as informative and inspiring, with praise for the speakers.

The Koue Bokkeveld Training Center celebrated Youth Day in a powerful way in collaboration with the Department of Rural Development and YWAM.

YWAM presented a moving drama that highlighted the realities of family displacement and difficult choices. The Department held an informative discussion with the youth about cellphone use, warning against the tragic consequences of misuse, including a true story with a heartbreaking ending. A highlight of the day was former learner Adrian Ockhuis’ inspiring testimony of perseverance, hard work, and hope.

Thank you to Rora Orchards for the delicious tangerines, the Department for their gift packs, and our talented dancers for their energetic performances.

Our youth are precious and so was this day.

In partnership, SIZA and PROCARE proudly offer a fully funded training programme designed to equip workplaces and employees with practical tools and strategies to promote and sustain a healthy and productive work environment.

The training, titled “When Grievances Become Good Practice”, focuses on transforming workplace challenges into opportunities for growth by building trust, improving communication, and strengthening relationships.

The programme covers key topics such as:
• Healthy communication and conflict management
• Building trust between employer and employee
• The importance of active listening
• The grievance procedure as a solution-focused tool
• The positive role a workers' committee can play in the process

The training includes:
• A 4-hour workshop for employees and supervisors (available in Afrikaans or English, with Xhosa interpretation if needed)
• A 2-hour session for supervisors/team leaders focusing on leadership and employee support
• A 1-hour feedback session for management, offering practical insights and recommendations

This collaboration aims to strengthen workplace relationships and cultivate a culture of mutual respect and growth.

This training is fully funded and available to SIZA Members who want to foster and maintain a positive workplace environment.

For more information or to book a workshop, please contact:
Project Manager
👤 Marietjie Bezuidenhout
📧 mbez@procare.co.za
📞 082 339 8988
PROCARE Operational Manager
👤 Sunette le Roux
📧 sunette@procare.co.za
📞 082 977 4435

The Agricultural Learnerships for the NQF 2, Plant Production course will start on 29 July 2025. The National Certificate in Agriculture NQF 2 has a credit value of 120 credits. A total of 39 learners are enrolled for the learnership. Classes are held at the Koue Bokkeveld Training Center and at Graaff Fruit: Lushof in Prince Alfred Hamlet. Everyone is very excited that they can finally do learnerships again. Upon successful completion of the learnership, these learners will meet the minimum requirements to register for the QCTO occupational qualification: Orchard and Vineyard Foreman.

This Skills Course is offered to learners who have already matriculated and are currently working on our member farms. 32 learners were enrolled this year. The program has already been successfully presented twice and has a proven success record that gives accessibility to the agricultural sector. Learners get theoretical knowledge as well as practical exposure in agriculture.