Pretoria, 19 October 2020. Wildlife Ranching South Africa (WRSA) welcomes the newly elected chairperson, vice chairperson and four directors elected to the WRSA Board of Directors on 16 October 2020 as well as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 November 2020.
With their diverse ranges of experience and knowledge of the South African wildlife industry, the new leaders will make valuable contributions to guide and implement WRSA strategies.
Mr Gerhard Heyneke, chairperson, entered the wildlife ranching industry in 2008. He served as chairperson on various conservancy, provincial and other committees and after serving on WRSA chamber and provincial structures for many years, was appointed as board member during 2018. Gerhard was appointed as interim deputy president of WRSA during June 2020. He completed his HED (Potchefstroom and Pretoria) with botany and zoology as majors.
Mr Colin Engelbrecht, vice chairperson, is involved in wildlife ranching since 1996 and served on the WRSA President’s Council since 2013. He was also a nominee for the sought-after WRSA Wildlife Rancher of the Year award in 2013. Colin obtained a BComm degree at the NWU, followed by certificates in marketing (RAU) and entreneurship (Stellenbosch).
Mr Richard York, CEO. After growing up on one of the first game ranches in Bophuthatswana and later North-West, Richard obtained the degree BComm Tourism Management from the University of Pretoria in 2008. He then joined the family business, playing an active role in developing game ranches in the Limpopo province. Richard has actively served on various committees within the full value chain of the South African wildlife industry, including WRSA, and is passionate about the industry.
Messrs Tebogo Mogashoa, Malan Davey, Louis van der Watt and Kgomotso Maphai were also elected as board members at the WRSA annual general meeting on 16 October. Tebogo stepped down as president of the organization (2018-2020). Additional members to be appointed to the WRSA Board, will be announced within the next 14 days.
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Enquiries: Adri Kitshoff-Botha, 083-650-0442; Gerhard Heyneke, 074-103-5212
KENNISGEWING VAN PAS VERKOSE WRSA-RAADSLEDE EN HOOF UITVOERENDE BEAMPTE
Pretoria, 19 Oktober 2020: Wildbedryf Suid-Afrika (WRSA) verwelkom die pas verkose voorsitter, ondervoorsitter en vier direkteure met ingang 16 Oktober, asook die aanstelling van die organisasie se nuwe uitvoerende hoof, effektief op 1 November 2020.
Die nuwe leiers sal, met hul uiteenlopende ervaring en kennis van die Suid-Afrikaanse wildbedryf, waardevolle bydraes lewer tot die implementering van WRSA strategieë en die volhoubare toekoms van die Suid-Afrikaanse wildbedryf.
Mnr. Gerhard Heyneke, voorsitter, het in 2008 tot wildboerdery toegetree. Hy het sedertdien as voorsitter gedien op verskeie bewarings-, provinsiale en ander komitees, insluitend WRSA-bedryfskamer en -provinsiale strukture en is in 2018 as WRSA-raadslid aangestel. Gedurende Junie 2020 is hy as tussentydse adjunkpresident van WRSA aangestel. Gerhard het ‘n HOD (Potchefstroom en Pretoria) met Plant- en Dierkunde as hoofvakke.
Mnr. Colin Engelbrecht, ondervoorsitter, is sedert 1996 betrokke by wildboerdery en het sedert 2013 op die WRSA-presidentsraad gedien as bedryfskamer- en later WRSA Noord-Wes provinsiale voorsitter. Hy is ook in 2013 genomineer vir die gesogte WRSA-toekenning Wildboer van die Jaar. Colin het ‘n B.Com- graad(NWU), asook sertifikate in Bemarking (RAU) en Entrepreneurskap (Stellenbosch).
Mnr. Richard York, Hoof Uitvoerde Beampte, het op een van die eerste wildsplase in Bophuthatswana en later Noordwes, grootgeword. Richard het in 2008 die B.Com-graad in Toerismebestuur aan die Universiteit van Pretoria verwerf. Hy het by die familiebesigheid aangesluit waar hy ‘n aktiewe rol speel in die ontwikkeling van wildsplase in die Limpopo provinsie. Richard het aktief op verskeie komitees binne die volle waardeketting van die Suid-Afrikaanse wildbedryf, insluitend WRSA, gedien en is geesdriftig oor die bedryf.
Mnre. Tebogo Mogashoa, Malan Davey, Louis van der Watt en Kgomotso Maphai is ook tydens die WRSA Algemene Jaarvergadering op 16 Oktober as raadslede verkies. Mnr. Mogashoa is ook die uittredende WRSA-president (2018-2020). Bykomende lede tot die WRSA Raad van Direkteure sal binne die volgende 14 dae aangekondig word.
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Navrae: Adri Kitshoff-Botha, 083-650-0442; Gerhard Heyneke, 074-103-5212
