Page 12 - Landscape-Issue136(2)

INDUSTRY NEWS

SALI GAUTENG

DIRECTOR OF

OPERATIONS

Introduction to Pest
and Weed Control
After completion of this course, the participant would be able to:
i. Scout for, identify and describe common pests, diseases and
weeds found in a nursery or landscape.
ii. Identify, describe, and apply best pest, disease and weed
control practices in a nursery or landscape.

The complete course will involve attending two sessions for each
block. Two blocks will still be run this year as follows:
Block 2 Block 3
Francois Le Roux,
4 June 15 October SALI Director of Operations
25 June 5 November
ollowing the resignation of Corne Nothnagel, SALI is
Registration closes: Registration closes: pleased to announce the appointment of Francois Le
20 May 2024 27 September FRoux as its new director of operations in Gauteng.
Le Roux’s interest in horticulture started at a young
The total cost per learner is R605.00 (excl. VAT) for the course. age, inspired by his parents’ love of gardening. After
matriculating he worked for the South African Railways,
Team Leader and whilst there, students facilitated various functions,
receiving the Lady Duncan Trophy for the best railway
The purpose of this course is to prepare the learner to operate as an station gardens.
Ornamental Horticultural Team Leader. Ornamental Horticulture Spoornet sponsored his horticultural studies, and he
Team Leaders work as productive members of a team and lead undertook practical work at their Hartebeespoort facility.
it in ornamental plant propagation nurseries, cut flower farms or His first theoretical exam was done at the Cape Town
gardens and landscapes. Technikon (now Cape Peninsula University of Technology),
where he obtained his National Diploma in Horticulture.
The complete course will involve attending THREE sessions on the Since the start of his horticultural career, Francois has
following dates: worked for Trafalgar Properties (garden maintenance
26 September division), Plant Ranch Nursery, Broadacres Garden
Centre as their manager, Builders Warehouse, Servest
17 October Landscaping (greenhouse management), Bidvest Top
Turf, FSG Landscaping, Masterful Maintenance and Clean
7 November Green Gardens.
Registration closes: 6 September 2024 His passion is for flower arranging and creating plant
displays, and in several of his positions he was also key
Compulsory mentor briefing session accounts manager. “I’m a hands-on horticultural person
12 September 2024 via zoom starting at 14:00 as well as a client liaison person. In some positions I also
The total cost per learner is R907.50 (excl. VAT) for the course. undertook sales for new landscaping projects, for example
at an office park where I quoted for the redesign of the
gardens. Client satisfaction is for me a key function of my
To Register: work – I love giving clients a solution”. Le Roux says his ‘big
https://sagic.co.za/training/ love’ is indoor plants, and his plants are like his children. “I
love to look after plants for people, I’m like a plant doctor.”
Asked about his views on the future of the green
For more information contact Bernadette Eksteen: industry, Le Roux says he wants to elevate it so that the
Email: admin@sagic.co.za landscape component of a new project is at the top of the
Cell: 082 567 7592 client’s list of priorities, as opposed to coming in right at
the tail end, and receiving the least amount of attention
with the smallest budget.
“I’m looking forward to this new challenge, and selling
the benefits of SALI to clients”, he states.

Francois may be contacted on gauteng@sali.co.za or
071 685 5487

10 Landscape SA • Issue 135 2024 Check us out www.salandscape.co.za