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The company turned 12 years old
in September 2014 and has been based in Kokstad (KZN) since
2003.
2014 The Year in Review
Scientific Roets (PTY) Ltd is a private
company serving Rural and Enterprise
Development
What we do • Agricultural and Rural
Enterprise Project
Management through our Project Manage-
ment Unit,
• Training through our
Learning Division
(Provisionally regis-tered with Depart-
ment of Higher Edu-cation and Training as
a Private FET College, and Fully Accredited
Training Service Pro-
vider and Institute of Sectoral and Occupa-
tional Excellence of AgriSETA, with the
NQF 4 New Venture
Creation programme registered with Ser-
vicesSETA),
• Agricultural research
(contract research
and ad hoc research regarding indigenous
resources, nutrition and agricultural eco-
nomics) through AgriSPACE and
• Development of inno-
vative new products
and services through
our Research and
Development Divi-
sion.
1
What do we believe in? The Mission of Scientific Roets (PTY) Ltd is
“Within the spirit of the African Renaissance,
we assist local, district, provincial and nation-
al authorities and other development agen-
cies to achieve their rural community and
enterprise development goals. We design
and implement innovative rural and agricul-
tural enterprises, infrastructure and institu-
tions, and provide the relevant accredited
capacity building”.
All our work in rural
development is based on
our belief in the comple-
mentarity of the four
“Prime Movers of Ru-
ral Development”:
• Agriculture (it is the
key to unlocking the
potential of rural com-
munities),
• Infrastructure and
equipment (it must be
technologically viable
and appropriate to its
environment),
• Institutional Innova-
tion (enterprises must
engender empower-
ment and improve
livelihoods) and
• Capacity building
(Should be associated
with job-creation,
encourage entrepre-
neurship and “Life
-long” learning).
Scientific Roets (PTY)
Ltd has developed a
methodology which com-
bines participatory busi-
ness planning, intricate
market knowledge and
the creation of viable
market linkages, appro-
priate skills development,
and the development of
the relevant infrastructure
and equipment require-
ments. A mentorship
phase is built into all
rural enterprise develop-
ments.
We are passionate about
South Africa. We believe
in our government’s leg-
islation and policies and
contribute enthusiastical-
ly to our country’s
growth and maintenance.
A valid Tax Clearance
Certificate is available on
request.
BBBEE SCORE: Scientific Roets (PTY)
Ltd has achieved a score of 96.82, making us a
Level Two Contributor!
The employees of Scientific
Roets own 51% of the compa-
ny.
Our team members are highly
technically qualified, confident
in their abilities and competent
in their decision-making. We
have a flat organizational
structure, and high employ-
ment equity.
We contribute between 3 and
16% of our salary roll per year
to learning new skills (the tar-
get of the BEE Scorecard is 2
%!)
We contribute all our time,
energy and passion to social
and enterprise development.
This demonstrates that our
company “talks” and “walks”
empowerment and growth.
Clients can multiply their spend
on our services by 125% when
calculating their own BEE
Scores.
We are a qualifying Enterprise
Development beneficiary
(Category A) – Contributions
made to our company can be
considered for Enterprise De-
velopment points on the
BBBEE scorecard.
A copy of our BEE verification
certificate is available on re-
quest.
2
What is our Expertise? We only work with rural beneficiaries and have contributed to more than 150
projects (whether training, mentoring, enterprise development, institutional
development or infrastructure development) in the 12 years of our operation.
The staff members of Scientific Roets are
highly experienced in working with devel-
opment and LED projects (SMME’s, Co-
operatives, Agriculture, Poultry Projects,
Plant Production, Goat, Beef, Tourism and
Infrastructure projects).
Dr Merida Roets (Pr. Sci. Nat) has exten-
sive experience in agriculture and rural
development. She has 20 years of experi-
ence in agricultural research and rural de-
velopment with emphasis on the use of
indigenous and local resources and capaci-
ties, designing and developing rural devel-
opment projects and mentorship of young
professionals.
Mr Zama Madikizela (B.Tech. Animal
Production), the Operations Manager,
oversees and contributes to the work of
five Agricultural Liaison Officers: Mr
Mpho Mazubane (B.Tech. Animal Produc-
tion), Mr Brian Mvuyana (N.Dip. Agricul-
ture), Mr Mandla Rangana (N.Dip. Agri-
culture), Ms Nonkanyiso Ntshangase
(N.Dip.Agric.Ext.) and Ms Nonsindiso
Mbili (N.Dip.Agric. Ext.).
New product and service innovation are
managed by Dr Merida Roets under the
auspices of AgriSPACE, our Research and
Development Division. This Division cur-
rently concentrates on new learning pro-
grammes (Early Childhood Development,
Agricultural Research Management, IP
rights, Science Writing, ABET), new train-
ing methodologies (RPL and E-learning),
future business opportunities
(AgriSPACE – Agricultural Science
and Practical Assessment Centre of Excel-
lence – Contract research facility and agri-
cultural assessment centre) and products of
use to the agricultural industry.
The team are highly experienced in
providing:
• SAQA aligned and Unit Standards-
based Learnership and Skills Pro-
gramme training and assessment (We
have trained more than 1600 learners/
farmers/ entrepreneurs/co-operative
members in vegetable, livestock and
poultry production and enterprise devel-
opment (New Venture Creation) since
obtaining accreditation from AgriSETA
in 2004),
• ABET training (we understand rural
illiteracy and have incorporated ways to
mitigate its impact in all our training
programmes),
• Conducting feasibility studies for vari-
ous rural development enterprises (we
understand the constraints that rural
beneficiaries face regarding transaction
costs, lack of up- and down-stream link-
ages and economies of scale),
• Community liaison and social facilita-
tion (we acknowledge that project fail-
ure is usually due to poor communica-
tion, lack of participatory approaches,
exclusion, and poor institutional ar-
rangements),
• Implementation and management of
rural and enterprise development initia-
tives (our experience is that mentoring,
business knowledge and day-to-day
3
business management and communica-
tion with beneficiaries is key to rural
enterprise success).
The team are experienced agricultural train-
ing facilitators, registered assessors and/or
moderators (our team are all qualified and
experienced agriculturalists having, not only,
theoretical knowledge, but practical work-
place and personal farming experience).
Dr Merida Roets has contributed regularly as
resource person and facilitator to the capaci-
ty building activities of various developing
nations’ National Agricultural Research
Services (NARS). These capacity building
activities have included: Agricultural Re-
search Management Training (Ghana, South
Africa), Agricultural Priority Setting with
ASARECA and ECAPAPA (Uganda, Ken-
ya), Agricultural Research Management with
Innovation Systems Perspective (Ethiopia)
and Results-Oriented Programme Planning,
Learning and Capacity Building (Papua New
Guinea).
Dr Merida Roets brings a wealth of
knowledge regarding various Develop-
ment Perspectives such as: Agriculture
Research for Development, Sustainable
Rural Livelihoods, Institutional Innova-
tion, Innovation’s Perspective for Rural
Development, Farming Systems Research
and Extension, Value-Chain analysis and
development, Asset-Based Approaches to
Rural Development, Results-Oriented
Programme Planning, Learning and Ca-
pacity Building and Sustainable “Green”
business.
Infrastructure development is handled by a
sister company Scientific Roets Engineering
Services lead by Adriaan Roets (Pr.Eng.-
ECSA registration number 20030180) who is
supported by Mr Zamindlela Godlimpi
(Nat.Dip.Eng.). Previous rural infra-
structure projects include design and
site supervision of rural (gravel) and black-
top roads, water reticulation, dams, reser-
voirs, pump-stations, pipelines, agricultural
infrastructure, agro-processing facilities,
hydroponics tunnels, retaining walls, tourism
complexes, landfill sites, storm-water drain-
age, sports fields, RDP housing, airfield
resurfacing and refuse transfer stations. (The
development of appropriate rural infrastruc-
ture for both small and large agricultural
enterprises is managed by this team.)
The team is efficiently supported by Ms.
Zukiswa Sonqwenqwe our Office Adminis-
trator, Mr Dumisani Dingindlela our Human
Resources Officer and Ms. Eunice Dlamini
our General Assistant.
Scientific Roets continues with services
to assist SMME’s in business training,
business mentorship, the development
of Business Plans and Feasibility Stud-
ies, assisting SMME’s with tenders and
procurement, and the provision of both
business-oriented and technical-
oriented information in service to
SMME’s. This includes the provision of
the NQF 4 New Venture Creation
(SMME’s) learnership and identifying
business opportunities for rural entre-
preneurs.
Scientific Roets (PTY) Ltd is an accred-
ited Training Service Provider of Agri-
SETA and has successfully completed
training programmes (ABET, Skills
Programmes and Learnerships) for
MAPPP-SETA, MQA, AgriSETA and
Services SETA. All training is SAQA
aligned and Unit Standards based. We
are a provisionally accredited Private
FET College of the Department of
Higher Education and Training.
CV’s of Project Team members are
available on request.
4
5
6
2. AgriSETA—Recognition of Prior learning - ISOE Research and
Pilot Project
Scientific Roets is well-placed to develop an
RPL tool for the competency assessment of
agricultural entrepreneurs and farm workers.
The development of the RPL tool has gone
through several iterations and the innovative
use of an E-Learning platform has been
agreed. Development of the E-Learning
platform of the NQF 1 Animal Production,
supported by a Log Book, Assessment tools,
Alignment matrices and Policies and Proce-
dures have been undertaken in 2013. This
project will soon be piloted.
Projects spilling over from 2013
1. PANNAR REPORTING COMPLETED IN JANUARY 2014
PANNAR Training is an on-going pro-
gramme that aims at enhancing the skills of
the company staff of all the sections, includ-
ing research, packing and storage, receiving,
etc. and of all branches of the company
around the country. Unit Standards are there-
fore selected (with the guidance of local fa-
cilitators and supervisors) from various quali-
fications and are packaged to suite the unique
training needs of the individuals undergoing
training at that particular time.
Our contact session with assessment candi-
dates was planned to take place on the 14th
and 15th of October 2013. The purpose was
to conduct a pre-assessment meeting with the
learners. The learner workbooks were used to
prepare learners for assessment. The facilita-
tor gave the learners some feedback on the
work that they did on their learner work-
books. Assessments would then be conduct-
ed once learners confirmed their readiness for
assessment. There were 7 candidates that
were involved in this assessment session.
Their names will appear in Chapter 2 below
in the “List of learners trained”.
The identification of learners who are partici-
pating in this programme and the selection of
relevant Unit Standards was done by
PANNAR. The learners then studied on their
own using the learner guide and the learner
workbook. They compiled impressive port-
folios of evidence through their work books,
putting additional pieces of evidence from
their work place where such was required.
Assessments were conducted on the 14th and
15th of October 2013.
7
2014 Projects
1. BBBEE Enterprise Development and Socio-Economic Development
Services to private companies
Scientific Roets provides BBBEE (Broad
Based Black Economic Empowerment) ser-
vices to private companies seeking to improve
their BBBEE scores. This allows funds to be
channeled to worthy entrepreneurial develop-
ment and socio-economic development initia-
tives identified by Scientific Roets. The ser-
vice entails identifying relevant initiatives,
facilitating the transfer of funds to the entity
(either directly or through purchase of goods
or provision of services such as training), and
compiling the report for each activity for the
purposes of claiming points towards the com-
pany’s BBBEE scorecard.
Some of these initiatives for 2014 are de-
scribed in the pages to follow:
Jen’s School in Kokstad, KZN, has provided
education to hundreds of Kokstad children
since 2001. They indicated a dire need for
educational toys. Matsei Technologies and
Consulting provided R 18 000 towards the
purchase of a wide range of materials.
2014 Projects
Continued: BBBEE Enterprise Development and Socio-Economic De-
velopment Services to private companies
Scientific Roets are as-
sisting with the develop-
ment of a Vegetable
Gardening Service Enter-
prise. This programme
has been supported with
funds obtained from the
Segal Family Founda-
tion, the Expanded Pub-
lic Works Programme
and C&S Forestry Ser-
vices.
A potential income-
generating opportunity
has now arisen for this
team. This opportunity
will assist the Gardening
Ambassadors to gain
experience of growing
for gain. A local NGO of
Kokstad, Yondlabantu, is
in the process of being
awarded a Department of
Social Welfare contract
to purchase food and
supply meals to 74 or-
phans in the Swartberg
area for a period of one
year. Discussions with
Yondlabantu have en-
sured that the meals will
consist of more than just
soup and bread; vegeta-
bles will be added to the
lunch menus. It has been
agreed that
Yondlabantu
will procure
the fresh pro-
duce from the
Gardening
Ambassadors
at market-
related prices
throughout the
year of their
contract with
the Department of Social
Development. Six Gar-
dening Ambassadors
have agreed to take on
the challenge of produc-
ing vegetables for this
worthy cause.
An amount of R 10 800
was made available by
Boleng Distributors to
assist the vegetable
production of these
growers, allowing
them to plant now in
time to have fresh
produce ready for sale
by April 2014 when
the Social Develop-
ment project of
Yondlabantu starts.
Boleng Distributors
have again provided
financial support to St
Theresa’s Children’s Project in
Kokstad. St Theresa’s Children’s
Project (NPO 080-618) was es-
tablished to provide regular nu-
trition and life skills during the
early development of underprivi-
leged children in the areas of
Riverview and Eastview in the
township of Bhongweni in Kok-
stad.
8
2014 Projects Continued: BBBEE Enterprise Development and Socio-Economic De-
velopment Services to private companies
Crossroads Children’s Home in Matatiele in the Eastern Cape, has provided care to hundreds
of children since 2000. C&S Forestry Services requested that their funds should be chan-
nelled towards this important initiative. Scientific Roets paid an amount of R 4 293.00 direct-
ly to the Home on their behalf.
Business training of Kokstad Hawkers
Scientific Roets constantly seeks ways in which it can assist with the national drive of entre-
preneurial development and job-creation. Discussions in-house identified the need to assist
local hawkers improve their viability. One manner identified in which Scientific Roets could
assist was with the provision of training on financial concepts.
14 Hawkers within Kokstad Town approached Scientific Roets to help them improve their
financial literacy. All 14 Hawkers indicated that they had no previous formal financial train-
ing and that this lack of understanding was seriously impeding their ability to manage their
meagre incomes. It was decided to offer training to these hawkers over a two-day period. The
Skills Programme started on the 4th of February and ended on the 5th of February 2014. All
fourteen (14) learners attended the training which took place at the Scientific Roets Learning
Centre in Kokstad, KwaZulu Natal. This training was funded by Matsei Technologies and
Consulting (PTY) Ltd to the amount of R 24 000 as their contribution towards entrepreneuri-
al development.
9
Projects of 2014 2. Egugwini Land Reform Project—NQF 2
Mixed Farming Learnership
The Land Reform programme of AgriSETA serves to
provide much-needed skills to Land Reform benefi-
ciaries. The Egugwini Community Trust near Colenso,
KZN, is one such group who have now completed an
NQF 2 Mixed Farming learnership under the leader-
ship of Mpho Mazubane.
The Egugwini Community Trust NQF Level 2 Mixed
Systems Learnership was funded by AgriSETA. The
training had ten (10) unemployed learners and took
place at the Egugwini Farm in Colenso in the Lady-
smith Local Municipality of KwaZulu-Natal Province.
This Learnership commenced on the 15th of July 2013
and was completed in April 2014. The Egugwini Com-
munity Trust is currently specialising in plant produc-
tion, broiler production and small stock production.
3. KWASANI - PHASE 2:
Vegetable Value-Adding
Scientific Roets has completed
the skills component of the 2nd
Phase of this empowering initi-
ative. Following on the success
of Phase 1, where 90 house-
holds in 3 villages around Un-
derberg, KZN, were provided
skills, equipment and infrastruc-
ture for household food securi-
ty, Phase 2 aimed to develop
these communities commercial-
ly – albeit on a small scale.
Thirty (30) individuals were
chosen from Phase 1 to under-
take Phase 2 which would in-
clude the establishment of larg-
er vegetable lands, establish-
ment of co-operatives, business
skills, and value-adding exper-
tise, tools and infrastructure in
the 3 villages.
The skills component of Phase
2 was completed by Scientific
Roets. The project is managed
by KwaSani Local Municipality
and funded by the AgriBusiness
Development Agency, KZN.
10
Projects of 2014
4. National Skills Fund—
Sisonke Development Agen-
cy—Bursary and Stipend
Management
Scientific Roets was awarded the
tender to provide financial manage-
ment services to the Sisonke De-
velopment Agency National Skills
Fund Project. This project entails
the training of 1000 learners and 20
bursary recipients in two phases. A
service provider was sought with
the necessary capacity to manage
the monthly payment of bursaries
and stipends in two phases to these
1000 learners. Learners are being
trained in artisan (plumbing, con-
struction, road works, waste water
reticulation, waste water treatment,
sanitation, automotive, domestic
appliance, welding, diesel mechan-
ics) and agricultural (plant produc-
tion, silviculture, crop production,
poultry production and animal
production) related fields. Phase 1
was completed in September 2014.
5. CITRUS GROWERS ACADEMY
New Venture Creation programme for emergent
citrus growers
In 2013 Scientific Roets was approached by the Citrus Growers Academy regard-
ing their NQF 4 New Venture Creation Programme - they being one of a select
few training service providers in the agricultural sector to have developed the pro-
gramme and to be accredited for its delivery. The CGA purchased the entire pro-
gramme and along with Scientific Roets applied to AgriSETA to implement the
programme in 2014/2015 with 20 emergent Citrus Growers. This funding was ap-
proved. These growers are already successful citrus growers whose produce is
exported, however, their weakness remains their business acumen. The CGA re-
aligned the learning material and Scientific Roets started facilitating the pro-
gramme in September 2014 at the Mpofu Agricultural Development Campus in the
Eastern Cape. The programme is scheduled for completion in April 2015.
11
12
The Amalungelo Poultry Cooperative Skills Programme was funded by AgriSETA
to train 20 learners on poultry production and new venture creation. Scientific
Roets managed to train a total of 22 unemployed learners. This Skills Programme
commenced on the 2nd of June 2014 and it was completed on the 27th of June
2014. The training took place at the Nsingizi Village under UMzimkulu Municipal-
ity in the KwaZulu-Natal Province. This training aimed at improving the broiler
production and business management skills of Amalungelo Poultry Cooperative.
The project was ably managed
by Mr Mpho Mazubane.
Projects of 2014 6. Amalungelo Poultry and Business Skills Programme
7. Development of Certificate in Feed Milling Technology: Milling Shop Floor Development Programme for Rainbow Chicken Limited
It is with great excitement that the development of learning material for RCL Foods has been undertaken. The task comprises the development of learning mate-rial in 9 modules and includes an introduction and ori-entation manual, assessment tools and facilitation slides. The work has progressed slowly due to the highly technical nature of the content, but the commu-nication with the RCL Foods Learning Manager for Processing and Milling has been consistent and itera-tive. Facilitation of the programme by Scientific Roets is currently being discussed with possible roll-out to take place as from March 2015 at five RCL Foods mills. Dr Roets is in charge of these activities.
13
Scientific Roets was appointed as the Training
Provider for the Queenstown - Eastern Cape, Basic
Entrepreneurial Skills Development (BESD) Pro-
ject of SEDA. The aim is to conduct training for
Entrepreneurial Development Practitioner learners, to enable them, in turn, to con-
duct one-one-one coaching/training for emerging entrepreneurs at their own busi-
ness premises. SEDA, a national public entity under the Department of Trade and
Industry has implemented the Basic Entrepreneurial Skills Development (BESD)
Project for emerging entrepreneurs which has been developed by the German Gov-
ernment for South Africa in terms of the development cooperation between the gov-
ernment of the Republic of South Africa and the Government of the Federal Repub-
lic of Germany. The German Government through the Deutsche Gesellschaft Fur
Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) made a commitment to provide technical
assistance to the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and SEDA
regarding the roll-out of the BESD Project. The training, lasting a total of 147 days,
started on the 1st of September and will conclude on the 30th of April 2015. The
training is progressing very well with an enthusiastic group of 12 learners. As part
of the commitment of Scientific Roets to
the enterprise development of these learn-
ers, Scientific Roets provided each learner
with either a desktop or laptop computer
and memory sticks. These tools are used
frequently during the training and will
assist these budding entrepreneurs to de-
velop their small consulting practices.
2014 Projects 8. SEDA - Basic Entrepreneurial Skills Development Project, Queenstown
9. Tourism Buddies Kokstad Project Management
In 2012, Scientific Roets assisted with the Tourism Ambassadors Pro-gramme of the National Department of Tourism. The programme is back in a new form, the Tourism Buddies. Scientific Roets is assisting the Project Management company for the KwaZulu-Natal section of the project with the management of 35 tourism buddies in the Kokstad area. In this regard we have appointed our own Tourism Buddy, Ms. Bakhona Bambeni, to assist with driving this project. Our work here includes finding placements for the learners at host employers, administration of attendance registers, checking on their progress and hosting the three Food & Beverage training sessions in the Scientific Roets Learning Centre over the next year.
14
The Asisukume-Msinga Cooperative Skills Programme was funded by AgriSETA
to train 20 learners on maize production. The training commenced on the 29th Sep-
tember 2014 and was completed on the 20th of November 2014. The training took
place at Mawele High School at Msinga in the KwaZulu-Natal Province. The train-
ing aimed at improving the maize production skills of the Asisukume-Msinga Co-
operative which wishes to implement a no-till farming system. Six (6) Unit Stand-
ards were trained and assessed. Twenty (20) learners were deemed competent
against all unit standards. A successful field trip to an experienced commercial
farmer took place on the 19th of November 2014. The project was ably managed by
Mr Mpho Mazubane.
Projects of 2014 10. No-Till Maize Skills Programme
11. Innovation Hub—New Venture Creation Project
The Climate Innovation Centre of the Innovation Hub in Pretoria has imple-mented a “Green Learnership” to assist 10 entrepreneurs to develop and/or improve their small businesses in the Green sector. The programme com-menced in April 2014 and will conclude in March 2015. The Innovation Hub sought the services of an accredited training service provider to assist with the development of business skills within the broader programme. In July 2014 Scientific Roets was appointed to deliver the New Venture Crea-tion NQF 4 Learnership programme to the 10 young entrepreneurs. The pro-gramme started on the 4th of August and will conclude on the 2nd of De-cember with each learner presenting a comprehensive business plan to a panel of potential funders organized by the CIC. Merida has served as facili-tator on this project with Zama Madikizela assisting as assessor. The admin-istration of the programme will be completed in January 2015.
15
Tourism activities within the Alfred Nzo District
Municipal region are fragmented and local munici-
pality boundary specific. Although local initiatives
are essential, a district or regional level intervention which seeks to consolidate all
tourism related programmes and projects holds a high degree of significance for the
development of this sector and provides a way that tourism can assist to improve
local economic development. To affect this approach the development of a Beach
to Berg Corridor was identified through the ANDM - Tourism Sector Plan. The
ANDM – LED required the assistance of a service provider to develop an imple-
mentation and development plan in partnership
with local role-players and stakeholders. Scien-
tific Roets (PTY) Ltd submitted a proposal and
was awarded the bid. The Sustainable Tourism
Partnership Programme and the Tourism Grad-
ing Council of South Africa were approached
to assist with specific aspects of the project.
Two-day participatory workshops were held in each of the four local municipalities
to identify noteworthy places and events. These “magnets” or “hooks” are those
places that tourists may be interested to see. At these workshops , at least four
“magnets” were identified for each local municipality. Events were also added
where identified as relevant. Dr Merida Roets and Bakhona Bambeni of Scientific
Roets accompanied by Niki Glen and Moagisi Molebatsi of STPP, joined local mu-
nicipal officials and community members to visit each of the sites. At each site an
infrastructure, location, accessibility and potential assessment was done and photos
and GPS co-ordinates were taken. The overall impression of the products and op-
portunities for the route was
……………………..…………..“AWESOME”!!!!
A presentation to report on the findings was done to the ANDM on the 17th of No-
vember. The Development and Implementation Plan is now being written.
2014 Projects 12. Beach-to-Berg Tourism Route Development for Alfred Nzo Dis-trict Municipality
Human Resources
Studies Being Undertaken
Ms. Nonkanyiso Ntshangase and Ms. Nonsindiso Mbili are currently undertaking
their degrees in B.Tech. (Agricultural Development and Extension) and Mr Brian
Mvuyane is currently undertaking his B.Tech. (Animal Production) at the Tshwane
University of Technology. Mr Zama Madikizela is completing his Masters of Com-
merce in Leadership in the Local Economic Development Programme of the Univer-
sity of KZN.
Tender Challenge 2014
The Scientific Roets team set
itself the challenge of increasing
the number of tenders and pro-
posals submitted with the aim to
maintain the hit rate and obtain
increased appointments. In 2013
59 tenders or proposals were
submitted and 19 new projects
were awarded to us.
2014 has proved more challeng-
ing - we feel that the elections
delayed government department
calls and the economic down-
turn has certainly played its role.
As at end November 2014 we
have submitted 32 proposals or
tenders and have been awarded
11.
Resignations
The Scientific Roets
team is a close-knit
family, so it is al-
ways sad when we
need to say goodbye
to one of our team
members. This year
we have lost our
long-term friend
Mnonopheli Madikizela. Mnonopheli has
long held the vision to develop his own
citrus farm, so he has taken the bold step of
joining the Department of Agriculture in
Bizana, to be closer to his homestead where
he hopes to establish his operation in his
spare time. We wish him luck and already
miss him terribly.
16
New Appointments
Ms. Bakhona Bambeni has joined the Sci-
entific Roets team. Appointed within the
Tourism Buddies Programme, Bakhona has
already shown her worth by assisting with
the administration of the Tourism Buddies
Kokstad Programme as well as assisting on
the Beach-to-Berg Route Development. We
wish Bakhona all the best for her time with
Scientific Roets - hopefully for many years
to come!
Travel and Conferences Last year Dr Merida Roets attended Sustainability Week 2013 which was held at the Sandton
Convention Centre. This year she was an invited speaker! Merida presented two case studies
on Tourism for Rural Development, taking the AmaBhaca Craft and Encounter EG Country
and Garden Festival success stories as examples. The presentation formed part of the Respon-
sible Tourism Workshop and was well received. At this event Scientific Roets held discus-
sions with the Sustainable Tourism Partnership Programme regarding collaboration which has
led to the signing of an MOA and the first collaboration taking place - on the Beach-to-Berg
Route Development. We look forward to a long and fruitful collaboration with this dynamic
group.
17
In February 2014 Dr Merida Roets met with EgoliBio, an organization housed at the Innova-
tion Hub in Pretoria, that assists innovators in bringing their Biotechnology to market. Scien-
tific Roets potentially has 3 patents that they would like assistance in developing to marketable
agri-technology products. The ideas were well-received and an MOU was put in place to de-
velop the first. Subsequently, a funding proposal, endorsed by EgoliBio, has been submitted to
the SPII programme of the Department of Trade and Industry. Further funding proposals to the
Technology Innovation Agency are currently being developed.
Technology Development
AgriSPACE Developments To align ourselves with the pending changes to the Learning Landscape in South Africa, Sci-
entific Roets is mobilizing to meet these new needs. This has resulted in the decision to sell
the current office building in Kokstad town and move the offices to the barn on the farm
(owned by Merida Roets). The barn is a solid structure which will be renovated using “green”
principles such as rain-water harvesting, solar power etc. along with the modern and light
ambience of the current offices. Being located on the farm puts us closer to developing the
Practical Assessment Centre of Excellence (the PACE part of AgriSPACE) allowing us to
provide practical training opportunities to our learners. Fields will include: small stock, fruit,
vegetable (conventional and hydroponics) and poultry production. Several Scientific Roets
team members will be accommodated on the farm, making true country life a new and exciting
change for us all!
Further opportunities include our agri-technology developments (mentioned above), our
“green lab”, the possibility to partner with EgoloBio as their KwaZulu-Natal representative,
technologically-oriented training courses as well as presenting Research Management training
courses for CPD points to Natural Scientists (currently being discussed with SACNASP -
Scientific Roets has been asked to serve as the pilot programme for the SACNASP CPD-On
Demand system!). The opportunity to develop the entire “Scientific Estate” as a “Science
Tourism” destination is also being discussed with several funders.
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Our Successes!
• Scientific Roets (PTY) Ltd is an Agri-
SETA “Centre of Excellence” – one
of five in South Africa! This attests to
the high level of confidence expressed
by AgriSETA in the quality of our
learning, course material, project
management, learning facilitation,
record keeping, assessment and mod-
eration standards and the overall inno-
vative approach used in our learning
methodology. Copies of our registra-
tions and accreditations are available
on request.
• Scientific Roets (PTY) Ltd is provi-
sionally registered as a Private FET
College with the Department of High-
er Education and Training.
• Dr Merida Roets was invited by For-
mer US President Bill Clinton to
serve as a panelist at his 2008 Clinton
Global Initiative meeting, to share her
expertise on “Entrepreneurial Devel-
opment of Women in Developing
Countries”.
• Dr Merida Roets was a finalist in the
2008 KZN Business Woman of the
Year (Social Entrepreneur category).
• Scientific Roets obtained funding
from the Segal Family Foundation
through the Clinton Global Initiative
to undertake an NQF 4 New Venture
Creation Learnership involving 22
Kokstad Entrepreneurs. This financial
support has been continued from 2011
through to 2014 for similar work
(New Venture Creation NQF 4 quali-
fication registered with Services-
SETA).
• Scientific Roets has completed or
contributed to more than 130 rural
projects since its establishment in
2002.
• Scientific Roets has trained more than
1600 learner/farmers in full agricul-
tural or rural enterprise-related quali-
fications since 2004.
• Scientific Roets were chosen as a
winner of the British Airways Busi-
ness Opportunity Grants in 2010. We
applied this prize to international trav-
el in 2011. A team of four members
from Scientific Roets travelled to the
USA, for intensive poultry production
and feed milling courses at North
Carolina State University.
• Dr Merida Roets was invited to serve
as Key-note speaker at the National
Department of Science and Technolo-
gy’s Women in Science Awards Cere-
mony held in Centurion in August
2012 addressing the topic of “Using
Science and Technology to Empower
Rural Women and Alleviate Poverty”.
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CONTACT DETAILS:
The company Head Office is based at 96 Hope Street, Kok-stad. Projects as far as North West Province, Northern Cape, Mpumalanga, northern KwaZulu-Natal and the southern parts of the Eastern Cape are managed. Scientific Roets (PTY) Ltd can be reached at: P.O. Box 461, Kokstad, 4700. Tel/fax: (039) 727 1515 Tel. International:+27397271515 E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected], Web: www.scientificroets.com. Cell: Merida (083) 630 7787 Cell: Zama (082) 329 0229
2015 PROSPECTS AND PLANS
2015 will see:
* The implementation of:
• Continuation of the Citrus Grower’s Acade-
my NVC programme
• Continuation of the SEDA Basic Entrepre-
neurial Development programme
• Our offices moving to Karg’s Post, Kruis-
spruit and our development of several agri-
cultural components of AgriSPACE
• And MANY MORE!
Scientific Roets volunteers on
the Kokstad Tourism Organi-
sation and the Encounter EG
Country and Garden Festival.
Its offices house the Yondla-
bantu Hospice NGO and the
Green Ambassadors co-
operative. It further identifies
and supports social projects
through its BBBEE services.
GIVING:
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