SUPPORT the #firefighters battling the Overberg Fires
OUR TEAM
Louise Wessels – Manager
Louise, a dynamic manager, graduated from Stellenbosch University and RAU with a BCom Hons. She worked in the private sector (Ernst & Young, PWC, Namakwa Agri) for many years before she moved to Bredasdorp to marry the love of her life.
It’s here that Louise was introduced to, and took up the reins as Manager of the Greater Overberg Fire Protection Association.
Louise is responsible for the overall management of the goFPA, and her role is crucial in facilitating open communication between the goFPA members and the Fire Brigades in the district, as well as promoting fire prevention, protection and management.
Louise can be contacted on 063 690 7899 or alternatively via email at manager@overbergfpa.co.za
Pieter Rossouw – Project Coordinator
Pieter has worked in the wildfire industry since 2014. Prior to joining the goFPA team in October of 2019, he worked as an FPA Manager in the Eastern Cape. During this time, he gained a lot of valuable experience in wildfire management, prevention and suppression. Pieter graduated with a Post Grad Diploma in Business Administration from UNISA’s School of Business Leadership.
He has always had a passion for the environment and for people. His search for new challenges and experiences led him to the Western Cape, and to the goFPA team. His role as Project Coordinator includes, but is not limited to, serving as liaison between the landowners and Disaster Management.
He can be contact on 063 690 7899 or alternatively at pieter@overbergfpa.co.za.
Keith Leonard – Administration
Keith is a well-known face in Bredasdorp – having grown up in the area.
He attended the Albert Myburgh Senior Secondary School. After school, he started working at the Bredasdorp Pharmacy, where he remained for 16 years.
Keith joined the goFPA team in October 2016.
He will provide administrative support to the team this fire season – supporting goFPA’s integrated fire management work.
Mitch Afrika – Extension Officer
Mitch joined the goFPA team early in 2021 as a structured and disciplined Extension Officer, sharing an office with the Overstrand Fire Services in the coastal town of Hermanus.
He grew up in Robertson in the Cape Winelands district and completed a BSc in Conservation Ecology at Stellenbosch University. He then moved to the Overstrand to start his conservation career at the Flower Valley Conservation Trust just outside Gansbaai. During his time at Flower Valley, he worked as an assistant farm manager and later did extension work for their alien clearing project.
Mitch’s job at the goFPA includes consolidating current management units by increasing membership and supporting the team in integrated fire management efforts with a focus on the Overstrand area. He can be contacted on 067 234 1530 or via email at mitch@overbergfpa.co.za.
Our 2024-25 Board members are:
Chairman
JO NESER
(Former Executive at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, Olive farmer - Van Der Stel Pass area)
Member
LESTER SMITH
(Overstrand Local Municipality)
Vice-Chair
CHRIS MARTENS
(Sondagskloof FMU and conservationist)
Member
JOSE DE KOCK
(Chair of Napier Agri Association, represents the Napier area)
Member
ALBRECHT SMUTS
(Ruggens FMU leader and wheat farmer)
Member
HERMAN VAN DYK
(Overberg Wealth and Risk Management)
Fire Protection Officer
REINARD GELDENHUYS
(Overberg District Municipality)
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN OUR WORLD
Why you should get to know the Fire Danger Index
Taking note of your region’s Fire Danger Index not only makes you aware of the risk of fire on the day. It can also help to save lives.
We are ready for the fire season
“However, fires never listen, and they’ve started prematurely this year,” Geldenhuys says. Since November, the Overberg district has already experienced four large fires. The wildfires have affected Grabouw, Botriver, Hermanus and Villiersdorp.
Invasive plant clearing & restoration: The teams you can trust
As a landowner, do you want to protect your infrastructure and cultivated lands, mitigate veldfire risks and wildfire spread from your property, and protect and restore the environment? Then we can help. Invasive alien clearing can …
SUPPORT #FIREFIGHTERS BATTLING
THE OVERBERG FIRES.
All funds raised will SUPPORT fire-fighters battling the overwhelming Overberg fires. ALL monies raised will be: – used for making the fire lines more bearable, including; – cellphone airtime to talk to their families at home; – foodstuff like ice to keep their drinks cold, that warm meal to supplement their ration packs, and any other essentials. goFPA is a registered PBO.
GIVE
You can get involved by providing goods to energise our fire-fighters. Here’s a list of non-perishable items you can drop off – that help sustain our fire-fighters working hard to protect our homes and nature
DONATE
Donations are made through the secure PayFast system.
SNAPSCAN
reduction | readiness | response | recovery
IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS FOR MEMBERS
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Instagram @OverbergFPA
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