Gerhard Schutte (64), who has been at the helm of the Red Meat Producers Organization (RPO) for the past 35 years, is now going to exchange his office and computer for a 4×4, a tent and a fishing rod.
Schutte will step down as head of the RPO in January and will then take the open road with his wife, Salomé, a well-known writer and agricultural journalist, and explore Southern Africa properly.
“We are old campers. We have nowupgrade and got a 4×4 with a trailer. We are now going to touch serious campers,” Schutte jokingly tells RNews.
For Schutte, his role as head of the RPO was a passion, rather than a mere job.
“Thirty-five years is a long time. And people might raise their eyebrows that I sat in the chair too long, but I really enjoyed my work. Every day at the office was different, with its own challenges. However, my love for the industry and my work overshadowed these challenges.”
The industry has changed over the years and brought many new challenges to the fore. These include the deregulation of the sector, 40% transformation achieved and animal diseases which remain a major headache. The industry has also become more and more competitive internationally over the years.
Although Schutte has now reached retirement age, he says it was in any case time for him to stand aside and create space for renewal within the organization.
“It is reassuring to know that I am leaving at a time where the RPO is in a good place, with a structured vision (Vision 2030) in place for the future. The red meat industry will now benefit from a young, new leader with dynamism and energy who will make the vision work.
“I believe in the youth of South Africa and I believe in making room for them. We need the youth to help build the future.”
Free time
According to Schutte, the past 35 years have been a wonderful journey – but also one that has often taken him away from home. And that’s why he now wants to “invest time back” in himself and his family.
“I’m looking forward to having more time for myself and spending time on my hobbies. That’s why my wife and I are going to travel now. I will still be involved here and there with the RPO, but on a smaller scale.”
There will also be much, much more time for grilling, says Schutte. And it’s something he already does three times a week. He also likes fishing and playing tennis. Schutte describes himself as an enthusiastic hunter and with the help of his brother they like to make biltong and dried sausage.
The family also loves the Kruger National Park and Schutte intends to visit it more often now.
The Schutte family has lived in the same house in Rietondale in Pretoria for the past 25 years and they do not intend to put down their roots here any time soon.
“Our community and church are important to us.”
Passionate about nature conservation
Schutte joined the RPO in 1989, just after obtaining his master’s degree in Animal Science at the University of Pretoria (UP). He also previously worked at the Agricultural Research Council.
He was assistant manager at the RPO for 15 years before taking over the role as head and he has held this position for the past 20 years.
Due to his enthusiasm for natural sciences, he decided on BSc Animal Science at the time, says Schutte.
“I went to study what I liked and then I didn’t know where I would end up.”
Today, two of Schutte’s three adult daughters are following in his footsteps.
The second oldest daughter is doing her master’s degree in environmental sciences and the youngest is a final year student in agricultural economics. Both study at Tuks.
The couple’s eldest daughter works in an IT field at Anglo American.
“During the Covid-19 pandemic, the youngest daughter became involved as an honorary ranger at the Kruger National Park and did 80% of her first three years of studies in the park.”
Schutte and his daughters are very “green” and he says they therefore do not hunt for trophies, but for consumption. And when he fishes, he also only takes one fish home for the pot.
“The middle daughter is really a greenie and an activist in nature conservation.”
New head
The RPO is currently in the process of appointing a new head and Schutte believes that only the best candidate will take over the reins.
“The new person is not going to have to do damage control and just have to come up with new initiatives.”
Schutte says his replacement must also be able to work well in a team because the head of the RPO must rely on human relations.
“We are a service organisation, where we work with farmers – people who give their own time and expertise without compensation. It was great to work with such people who later become your friends.”
The new leader’s biggest challenge will be to negotiate with the state as a client, says Schutte.
“The new chief’s success will lie in how well he or she can hold hands with the authorities to establish bilateral agreements.”
Hope for red meat industry
Although red meat prices are now shooting through the roof, Schutte is hopeful that the future for the red meat industry will be rosy – also with the 2030 vision.
This vision entails that the industry’s exports will rise from 5% to 20% by 2030 to strengthen the bargaining power in the value chain of red meat production.
In terms of the plan, certain functions have been identified that must be delivered to the industry, including animal and public health, inclusive growth, market access as well as competitiveness and sustainability.
According to Schutte, the high meat prices cannot be attributed to problems within the industry, but rather to the “poor economy” which is a direct reflection of how red meat prices are performing.
But nothing seems to stop South Africans from eating red meat.
“According to research, South Africans have an inherent appetite for red meat, a product rich in nutrients that are good for the human immune system.
“South Africans will eat as much red meat as they can afford. We hope the economy will turn around so that red meat consumption can increase again.”
