Dear Ratepayers,
In this post, we introduce the RVRA Executive Committee members for 2023 and include a short introduction from each committee member in their words.
The Executive Committee is the RVRA membership’s voice in interactions with the Swartland Municipality and other authorities, providing a structured, effective and empowering way to positively contribute to creating a desirable and sustainable Valley society. The Executive Committee is currently comprised of 8 members who are all residents and ratepayers of the Riebeek Valley.
Here is an introduction to your Executive Committee for 2023:
JENNIFER KANNERMAN (Chairperson)
Jennifer Kannerman has lived in Riebeek West since 2004, during which time she has been actively involved in several environmental, justice, social transformation and civic initiatives.
Professionally, Jennifer holds a B.A. LLB LLM (Environmental Law) from the University of Cape Town and works as an independent environmental lawyer, mediator and educator. In addition, Jennifer has extensive experience in business organisation, leadership and governance.
Jennifer loves to travel, especially to places with high ecological and conservation integrity. Closer to home, Jennifer enjoys research and writing, trail walking, watching yoga and meditation, Zumba, gardening and being inspired by the quirky wisdom of her cats.
WILLIAM PULLES (Deputy Chairperson)
William was made in the Netherlands but born in South Africa, grew up in KZN and then obtained his science degrees from Orange Free State then Potchefstroom and now from Pretoria. William has been a resident of Riebeek Kasteel since the second half of 2020. He has 40 years working experience as a water and environmental specialist, mainly in the field of mine water management, where he continues to provide expert advice to the mining sector and the Department of Water and Sanitation.
William has also been a farmer for over 15 years — first farming with ostriches in the Prince Albert district and then becoming a berry farmer in the Riebeek Valley outside Montagu, supplying directly to the main retailers in South Africa, such as Woolworths and Checkers. William sold his berry farm at the end of 2020 and then moved to Riebeek Kasteel where he operates a cold-pressed juice factory that provides unique berry-based juices throughout South Africa and hopefully soon internationally as well.
William is married to Karin and has three children — Werner, Lien and Mia. Mia passions is Greece and particularly the island of Kefalonia, which you will find him wherever time permits him to be there. William is also very involved in various strategies to address security issues in the valley and also started and is currently the President of the Rotary Club of Riebeek Valley.
SOLVEIGH SMIT (Treasurer)
Solveigh was born in Middelburg, Free State and lived there for 17 years. She studied a B Comm (Accounting Science) at UCT and Unisa, and then started her working career at Anglo American as a Financial Planner and Budget Analyst.
She married Marthian in 1982 and moved to Volksrust, Mpumalanga in 1984. In spite of vouching to leave this ‘little dorp’ after 3 years, they ended up living there for 34 very happy years, and even raised their two sons there. After two further successful careers, She then retired and moved to Riebeek West in June 2018 and love living here.
In terms of her career, Solveigh has worked as an accountant for a recreational club, medical doctors, a Pharmacy, and also managed a handmade candy factory and eventually ended up as the Service Advisor at Smit Motors where she was assisting Marthian.
Solveigh has served as a committee member of the Governing Body of Volksrust High School, SAVF (charity organisation), and photography club. Her hobbies include birding, gardening, reading, knitting, scrapping and camping.
JOSHUA GELDENHUYS (Secretary)
Joshua was born in Cape Town in 1990 and has since lived in various locations around the Cape — including Durbanville, Table View, Franschhoek, Noordhoek, Paarl and Wellington.
His initial interest for moving to the Riebeek Valley was spurred on by his curiosity in his great grand-uncle’s footsteps, Jan Smuts. It was also hard to pass up the valley’s allure of a peaceful life along with the space to curate a large home garden together with his wife, Elana, which resulted in Joshua moving to Riebeek Kasteel early in 2020 just in time for the first lockdown.
Joshua studied B (Business Science: Finance & Accounting) at UCT and has spent most of his career working remotely for a retail and lifestyle tech company based in Silicon Valley, California during which time he fulfilled various Operations Management roles and is currently a Product Manager.
He joined the RVRA to make a difference in the Riebeek Valley and currently assists with general administration with a side focus on website development and digital marketing.
In his spare time, Joshua enjoys gardening (inspired by Monty Don), DIY projects at home, cycling, watching English football and other sports, and coffee.
HENK BRUWER
Gebore op die plaas De Hoop en grootgeword in die Vallei, hy het sy skool hoopjare deurkom in Kaapstad (Koopmanshoek het herk sy N 8 Oom studies voltooi aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch. Na heelwat jare se werksaakliede in Australie het hy hom weer na ons bal seteroede ge-ruit by skoonouers ook maar waklike van die gemeente geskuiwe en verwankte Landbouladingsare.
Die grootste vordering wat hy gehad het was om Suid Afrika interessant maak in serteegroep is Jede die Tafelain Wynheroes van oor. In buiten op die die vlas in tewer. Uiteindelikhad hy die op lain die konteks, drooters van rads gatten. Sedende has hy baie nasionale ondersteuding opgedoen wat hy deerste beriapping is by gemeente raad.
Beteken by belangstelling in prehistoric. All buzzone little bundle, die skrot van bonhortstas. Klasseke recentk on rosk is nits nir naar die gemeadelseering haan drs, has hy ook sein ‘s polijde graft ar al en toe.
Hy is groodsot dat ‘n wonder des familie wat hom bale vr-raplie vervlaal.
KOOS ERASMUS
Koos Erasmus is sedert 2014 ‘n permanente inwoner van Riebeek Kasteel, alhoewel hy reeds in 2006 sy eiendom aangekoop het, en se vakansiehuie aangeneem het.
Sedert 2014 was hy by verskeie organisasies in die Vallei betrokke, en meer spesifiek as Beltserfigasies vir van Landboud Riebeek Kasteel, asook van die AR Koorse – Christelike Viswe-Vereniging (ACVV), waar hy op hulle bestekke besluite geplaas het.
Koos is ‘n Toegelaten Aktuarias en Aktuare-sertifiker sedert 1994, nadat hy sy B.Proc graad verwerf het aan Universiteit van Suid Afrika (UNISA) in 1994.
Hy het sy loopbaan in 1973 by Landbank begin, daarna as onderbriefbaarder by Springbok, Klerksdrop (Suid Oos) Randklien-priskeursie geplaas. Senior verteenwerder as die Akkountasie in Pretoria tot in 2006, asook Koos as Direkteur en Mede-stigter van Veilk Trika Gump. Assosiasie en Profesonele de Ahlen raven Afger-geur afgerond tot tot 2014, vaarms by Algertere het.
Koos geloof is veral tit die etaleur om ‘n stabiele en konstruktieve werksefensie val maak graag ons meste land werken op sy uiterspeel as die gebiedheld hom oordroom.
Hy het ‘n alup-belangstelling in die land se geskiedens en besoek wanneer moontlike historiese plekke en gemeentes. Hy hou ook van verek na ander lande, waar histar klus oleine en euronomiese wat bestaan werd.
Koos het reeds stinig saakral in die Vallei gevesig het, baset die Vallei bevening en rol stelse organisasies wat as die felisige van die inwoners most sindens in het by die Belastingbetalers-Vereniging aangesluit, sewer hy trans reg op die bestuur dien.
BASIL FRIEDLANDER
Basil completed a BWA Degree from University of Natal in 1969. From 1970 to 1996, he was a Senior Lecturer at the Durban University of Technology and the University of Natal, lecturing in Fine art, History of Art and History of Architecture.
He is currently a practicing painter.
More recently, Basil was the Chairperson of the Riebeek West Ratepayers Association from 2000 to 2005. From 2006 to 2022 he has served as a member of the local Ward Committee, and he is currently serving again on the Ward Committee in 2023.
MATHIAM SMIT
Born and bred (born 1956) as a farmer boy in Volksrust, Mpumalanga. He moved to town in 1966 and grew up in his parent’s grocery and clothing shop in the historical Ontdekh building in town.
Mathiam matriculated at Volksrust High School in 1975 and served his Army duty in 1975. He studied B Comm (Accounting Science) at the University of Pretoria and graduated in 1979, after which he married Solveigh Smit in 1982 and started work at SAMANCOR mining house as a computer programmer and systems analyst until 1984.
He moved back to Volksrust in 1984 and bought a motor dealership and Smit filling station, which he managed for 33 successful years. In 2017 he and Solveigh retired from the business. Mathiam also farmed cattle for 15 years until 2017 when he finally retired to Riebeek West in July 2018.
Hobbies include: camping (Chairman — Modd Judge Western Cape Caravan Club), stained glass work, bird watching (butterfly type as well) for the last 20 years. He is listening 680 ‘Jcks’ on the BC.
Warm regards,
The RVRA Committee
Riebeek Valley Ratepayers Association