29 AUGUST 2008
PRESS STATEMENT
Mr Jeremia Sello Madiba, appointed as the new
AgriSETA Chief Executive Officer
After leading the Agricultural Sector Education and Training Authority (AgriSETA) and former Primary Agriculture Education and Training Authority (PAETA) for eight years, CEO Machiel van Niekerk has decided to retire. As Machiel said himself “it is time to pass on the baton”.
The process to find a new CEO was initiated in May 2008. After an extensive recruitment procedure, candidates were identified, and after rigorous selection interviews and psychometric evaluations by the AgriSETA Human Resource Committee and the Executive Committee, this baton will be passed on to Mr Jeremia (Jerry) Sello Madiba as from 1 October 2008.
Mr Madiba hails from a small village known as Mmotong wa Perekisi (Perskebult) outside Polokwane in Limpopo Province. He started school in the former Bophuthatswana in Marapyane and from there continued in Limpopo until he graduated with a B Agric, HED and B. Ed (Hons) at the then University of the North (University of Limpopo). He further holds an Honours and Masters degree (Agric Economics) with the University of Pretoria and he is currently registered for a PhD (Education Policy Studies) with the same university. He started his career as a teacher at Harry Oppenheimer Agricultural High School until he was appointed as Principal and then later Rector of Tompi Seleka College of Agriculture. He is a former Examiner under the then Department of Education and Training (DET) and a co-author of Focus in Agriculture, a Grade 10 book, which is currently being used for the new FET Curriculum. He was also involved in the process of investigating and incorporating Colleges of Agriculture either under Further Education and Training (FET) or Higher Education while working for the National Department of Agriculture. He then proceeded to be involved in coordinating and writing the FET Curriculum for the Department of Education. He was also previously involved as Learnership Manager at the former PAETA which gave him an opportunity to be involved with many Government departments. He will be joining the SETA coming from the Department of Agriculture and Science and Technology. His passion is to expand the mentoring programme for the new land reform recipients and to see more exports from commercial farmers.
Machiel van Niekerk was asked to make himself available for a further period to assist and guide the new incumbent into “the world of SETAs”, to stakeholders in the sector and focus on specific projects.
The AgriSETA Board welcomes Mr Madiba to the helm, wishes him well, and look forward to the AgriSETA being taken from strength to strength under his guidance.
AgriSETA Marketing and Communications
Mr Jerry Madiba