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RUDNET's Milestones

The Rural Development Network (RUDNET) is a network of organisations committed to enhancing the quality of life of farm-working communities through the provision of a cohesive and sustainable programme of integrated and quality development services.

RUDNET was established in 2002, the need being apparent for an organisation to be established to address, among others, the following problems, namely

  • facilitating Socio-economic empowerment and skills training of farm workers.
  • promoting the social inclusion of farm workers in civil organs
  • addressing social problems such as poverty, alcoholism, limited education and poor health (HIV, TB).

RUDNET's focus therefore is on the farm worker and rural communities who are a marginalized group whose needs have been overlooked. Approximately 71% of people in rural areas live below the poverty line and their social conditions are poor.

RUDNET aims to alleviate these problems, aligned with the principles of the overall National Agricultural Strategy, which ask for: a United de-recialised and prosperous agricultural sector, increasing commercial production, building international competitiveness, and addressing historical legacies & biases through sustainable profitable participation.

RUDNET is the NGO arm of the BAWSI (Black Association of the Wine and Spirits Industry). It also have a memorandum of cooperation with the SAWB (South African Wine and Brandy Company) for the implementation of the strategies for social development of the Wine Industry Strategy Plan (W.I.P.) through the Development and Transformation Business Unit.

The Rural Development Network operates within the Western Cape rural farming community and has as its focused target the approximate 220 000 Western Cape permanent and contract farm workers. Our current area of work focuses on the Cape Winelands District Municipality, which covers a large farming area, including Stellenbosch, as well as the surrounding 7 wine districts. Our intention is to roll out our activities to other farming districts as well, including Robertson, and to establish a RUDNET branch in the Northern Cape.

The present Programme Manager of RUDNET, appointed in April 2005, is Leslie Fillis, and he is assisted by the Office Administrator – Michele Hill, who was appointed in October 2004. Nokuphumla Kwele is appointed as a General worker in the RUDNET office.

RUDNET is currently funded by the South African Wine Industry Trust (SAWIT) and the Department of Agriculture, Western Cape.

RUDNET is continuously exploring new funding opportunities of its strategies and programmes.