SA Pork
About SAPPO
The South African Pork Producers’ Organisation (SAPPO) enables and facilitates a sustainable and profitable pork value chain by providing strategic direction, rendering specialised services, and supporting people development.
SAPPO represents South African pork producers and closely interacts with input suppliers, abattoirs, processors, and retailers in the pork value chain. These relationships enable SAPPO to coordinate industry interventions and collaboratively manage risks in the pork value chain. SAPPO also liaises with various agricultural stakeholders, including the South African government, international organisations, and the larger livestock industry.
SAPPO actively positions itself as an innovator and leader in agriculture. Over the years, SAPPO’s industry interventions have yielded a significant impact. As the global landscape changes, SAPPO constantly looks for new ways to unlock value for the South African pork industry.
The South African Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD), and key agricultural role players recognise the organisation as the representative industry organisation for pork producers.
Our team
Board members:
- James Jenkinson (chairman)
- Myles van Deventer (vice-chairman)
- Charl Braak
- David Osborne
- Kobus Raath (co-opted)
- Micheal Fysh (co-opted)
- Piet du Toit (co-opted)
- Sarah Chirwa
- Shaun Mockford
- Stefan Guizot
- Stephen Butt (co-opted)
- Willie Miller (independent)
Dr Peter Evans
Chief ExecutivE Officer
"The future of biosecurity will be mediated by our own behavior. We should keep ourselves accountable."
Dr Peter Evans
Dr Peter Evans was raised on a mixed farm in the Free State. He qualified as a veterinarian in 1983, and he has been focused on working in and serving the pig industry in South Africa since 1988. In 1993, he joined CS Vet, a specialist pig practice, where he is now a senior partner providing veterinary support to numerous large commercial pig units across South Africa. He has been a consultant to SAPPO for the past 14 years, where his responsibilities include SAPPO’s Pork 360 Consumer Assurance programme, maintenance of national pig health and biosecurity protocols, and developing antimicrobial stewardship guidelines to reduce antimicrobial usage in pig farming – a One Health approach for the South African pig industry.
Adél Spies
Communications
Boykie Mogase
Business Development Manager: KwaZulu-Natal
"Through collective collaboration, we can achieve sustainable agriculture."
Boykie Mogase
Boykie Mogase was born in the Township of Ga-Rankuwa (North-West of Pretoria) in Gauteng. He went to Boikanyo Primary School, Thuto Thebe Middle School and Modiri High School. He furthered his studies and completed a National Diploma in Animal Production (2013) and a B-Tech in Animal Production (2014) at Tshwane University of Technology. Boykie started working as an intern at the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries – DAFF (now called DALRRD) and was placed at Baynesfield Training Academy (KZN). He joined SAPPO as an Assistant Business Development Manager in 2018 and currently works as the Business Development Manager: KwaZulu-Natal.
Christian Zimelka
Head of Consumer education
"As a protein source and a contributor to nourishing people on the planet, the pork industry plays an important role in food security."
Christian Zimelka
Christian Zimelka is the head of the Consumer Education unit at SAPPO. He has always been passionate about branding in the agricultural category. He has an immense respect for its people and for the passion they have for what they do. He has also seen the opportunities to build a positive and updated perception of this industry to the consumers of today. Christian believes that product integrity and transparent communication in an honest, truthful, and meaningful way will drive agriculture forward. Previously, Christian co-founded Vega School and he is an astute branding and design specialist.
Jack Mothapo
Business Development Manager: Gauteng
"Aspire to inspire."
Jack Mothapo
Jack Mothapo was born, bred and raised in Ga-Mothapo, a village located 30 km outside of Polokwane. He attended primary and high school at his hometown and later furthered his studies at University of Limpopo, where he obtained a BSc in Agriculture Animal Production in 2013. Upon completion of his studies he moved to Gauteng, where he worked at the aviation industry and then he completed a DAFF internship at Baynesfield Training Academy. He joined the SAPPO team in 2018 and is now a Business Development Manager: North West.
Jane Chauke
Office Keeper
"The only way to do great work is to love what you do."
Jane Chauke
Jane was born in a rural area near Hamanskraal called Makapanstad in. She attended Mmamudu Primary School and then Mamathibe Middle School, where she completed Gr 9. Jane then started working as a cleaner at Supercare before joining the team as a cleaner at SAPPOs head office in Pretoria.
Karla Zietsman
GENERAL MANAGER
"The combination of SAPPO strategic interventions enables it to greatly enhance the sustainability of the pork industry."
Kgadi Senyatsi
Head of Business Development
"I have seen so many farms and communities improve through SAPPO's people-centered development approach."
Kgadi Senyatsi
Kgadi Senyatsi was born in a village in Limpopo called Moletjie Ga-Manamela. She has more than 15 years of experience in the industry. Before joining SAPPO, Kgadi worked as an agricultural adviser at the Western Cape Department of Agriculture (WCDoA) for four years, where she was responsible for training and development of small-scale pig farmers. Kgadi is currently the head of the Business Development unit at SAPPO, which is responsible for advisory services to small-scale pig farmers through mentorship, veterinary services, training and development, and stakeholder liaison.
Leago Theko
Assistant Business Development Manager: Mpumalanga
"You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending."
Leago Theko
Leago Theko attended High School at Hoedspruit Independent College and completed her tertiary studies at the University of the Free State. She began her career as an intern at Molare piggery, managing a 1 000 sow unit. Leago currently works as an Assistant Business Development Manager: Mpumalanga.
Mamello Ramosebi
Receptionist and assistant administrator
"Quality means doing it right when no one is looking."
Mamello Ramosebi
Mamello was born in Pretoria but spent her childhood days in Ficksburg in the Free State. She received her high school education at Northwood High School in Pretoria. Mamello studied office management and technology at Tshwane University of Technology. While studying, she started her first part-time job as a cashier and production assistant at The Happy Snappy Photo company. She worked a secretary at Laerskool Eendracht in Pretoria for a time, before joining SAPPO. She now works at SAPPO as a receptionist.
Mpho Ramela
Marketing Assistant
Nokuthula Mokwena
Financial Manager
"Sucess is not final, failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts."
Nokuthula Mokwena
Nokuthula’s roots are in Ekangala close to Bronkhortspruit, Limpopo. She obtained a BCom in Financial Sciences and then a BCom Hons. in Taxation at the University of Pretoria. Nokuthula is employed as SAPPO’s assistant financial administrator. She helps new farmers with financial planning and with issues such as drawing up financial statements.
Phumudzo Mudau
assistant business development manager: Western Cape
"It takes hard work, dedication, discipline, and a positive attitude to get to the top."
Phumudzo Mudau
Phumudzo Mudau joined the business development team on 1 March 2024 as the assistant business development manager for the Western Cape. Phumudzo grew up in Makhado in Limpopo Province. He holds a diploma in agriculture (animal science) from North-West University and an advanced diploma in agricultural extension from the Central University of Technology. Phumudzo joined the pig industry as a graduate intern in 2020, based at Baynesfield Training Academy (BTA) through the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries internship programme, until 2022 when he was appointed as a general worker and training facilitator. In January 2023, Phumudzo joined the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Reform as an assistant agricultural practitioner.
Rika Verwey
Head of Business Intelligence
"You can’t manage what you don’t measure."
Rika Verwey
Rika Verwey grew up in Boksburg where she completed both primary and high school. She always had an interest in mathematics (i.e. data) and then studied econometrics at the University of Pretoria. Rika taught various subjects in the Economics Department of the Tshwane University of Technology, including economics, econometrics, macro-economics, and financial management for four years, before joining Conningarth Economists as an economic consultant. Before joining SAPPO’s Business Intelligence unit in June 2020, she worked as a senior economist at the National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC) for 12 years.
Rolivhuwa Mavheta
Business Development Manager: Limpopo
"I believe in continued contribution to capacity building for the agriculture industry, through transferring industry knowledge."
Rolivhuwa Mavheta
Rolivhuwa was born in a village called Folovhodwe, Limpopo. He completed his studies at the University of South Africa (UNISA), Faculty of Agriculture. Rolivhuwa completed his practical work in animal and plant production at the University of Venda and Madzivhandila College of Agriculture. He started his career as a facilitator on an DALRRD internship at Baynesfield Training Academy, where he lectured on pig husbandry before joining SAPPO. He is the Business Development Manager: Limpopo. His role is to enable small scale pig producers to be economically viable and to maximise their long-term profitability through transferring industry knowledge, liaising with stakeholders, training and skills development and mentorship.
Tebogo Ledwaba
Assistant Business Development Manager: North West
"Great things come from hard work and perseverance"
Tebogo Ledwaba
Tebogo Ledwaba joined the Business Development team in February 2024 as the assistant business development manager for North West. Tebogo grew up in Seshego in Limpopo and matriculated from Hoër Landbouskool Kuschke. He furthered his studies and holds a diploma in agriculture from the Potchefstroom College of Agriculture, and an advanced diploma in agricultural extension from the Central University of Technology. Tebogo joined the pig industry as a graduate intern in 2019, based at Baynesfield Training Academy (BTA) through the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries internship programme, until the end of 2022, when he was appointed as a general worker and training facilitator. In January 2023, Tebogo joined the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Reform as an assistant agricultural practitioner.
Thabang Seoka
Community Service Veterinarian
Dr Thandi Chiappero
Head of Consumer Assurance
"Self-regulation is an imperative for biosecurity in the agricultural industry. SAPPO is leading the way through Pork 360."
Dr Thandi Chiappero
Dr Thandi Chiappero was appointed at SAPPO in 2021. She has a passion for One Health and veterinary public health. Dr Chiappero finished her studies at the University of Pretoria Faculty of Veterinary Science (Onderstepoort) in 2014 and worked as a state veterinarian auditing abattoirs before joining SAPPO’s Consumer Assurance team. She focuses on the Pork 360 assurance scheme, liaison with veterinarians, and the development of supporting documentation for quality and welfare in the pork value chain. She is tasked to further the One Health objectives of SAPPO and the pork industry in South Africa.
Thato Seerane
Assistant Business Development Manager: Free State
"Fall five times and get up six. The aim is to always try despite all odds … never fail to try."
Thato Seerane
Born and bred in Pretoria, Thato has always loved animals, although she was unsure if she could work with them. Her parents sent her to an agricultural high school and that's where her passion for pigs started. She attended the Tshwane University of Technology, where she furthered her passion for pigs and created a sustainable career path in agriculture. She hasn't been able to stop studying animals ever since! Thato works at SAPPO as the Assistant Business Development Manager in the Free State.
Thembelihle Ngiba
Business Development Manager: Eastern Cape
