About Us
The Citrus Academy is a non-profit company established in 2005 by the Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa to enable human resource development in the Southern African citrus industry. Tasked with addressing specific challenges faced by the industry—low production skills levels, employment equity, scarce and critical skills, black economic empowerment, and the quality of skills delivery—the Academy was registered as a separate company in March 2007.
The Citrus Academy has Section 18(a) tax exemption and has 100% beneficiary recognition for the purposes of B-BBEE.
Meet the team
Jacomien is responsible for the overall management of the Citrus Academy.
Jacomien de Klerk
General manager
Candice manages all aspects of the Bursary Fund, including applications, pay-outs, funding, and vocational learning programmes.
Candice Burgin
Bursary Fund manager
Sam manages the communications of the Academy.
Sam Louw
Communications and engagement manager
Desiree is responsible for e-learning programme development and implementation.
Desiree Schonken
Programme developer
Sive implements short courses, Orange Heart, Packalympics and other ad hoc projects.
Sive Silo
Project coordinator, Orange Heart manager, CGDC liaison
Nonhle’s tasks include coordinating and implementing face-to-face programs, administrating the e-learning platforms (LMS), learner database management, and resources.
Nonhle Mbhele
LMS administrator
Londiwe manages skills development implementation for growers.
Londiwe Ngcobo
Skills development facilitator
Angela manages the Citrus Resource Warehouse, Pick me!, social media and the website, along with the CRM and other internal databases.
Angela Phillips
Data manager
Melanie develops programmes and learning material.
Melanie Visser
Material and programme developer
Keshena is responsible for the management of the accounts.
Keshena Maharaj
Financial accountant
Bets oversees the office administration for both the Citrus Growers’ Association and the Citrus Academy.