RUDNET is a network of non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) 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:
• Farm workers are a marginalized group whose needs have been overlooked;
• 71% of people in rural areas live below the poverty line;
• Social conditions are poor including alcoholism, limited education, poor health (HIV/AIDS, TB); and
• The threat that conditions poses to the Wine Industry and agricultural sector in general if these conditions and problems are not addressed.
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”.
Informed by the needs of the people, RUDNET’s role is to position a network (of NGO’s), and to strengthen the network accordingly. NGO’s will be sorted and integrated into each of the strategies according to the needs of the people. By doing this, we believe developmental work is coordinated and not fragmented, and there is therefore no re-duplication of the same service. At present, 14 NGO’s and training organizations are affiliated to RUDNET and are strengthened through RUDNET as an overall umbrella organization.
Funding is acquired through the PAWC: Department of Social Services and Poverty Alleviation and PAWC: Department of Agriculture.
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.
The Director of RUDNET, appointed in April 2009 is Leslie Fillis and he is assisted by the Office Administrator Lucrecia September. 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.
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