Supporting employee financial health is becoming a priority for agricultural businesses across South Africa.
At De Keur Group, where the finest apples, pears, berries, cherries, nectarines, and onions are cultivated in the heart of the Koue Bokkeveld, Ceres, and Wolseley, the wellbeing of people is valued just as highly as the quality of the produce. For Johan du Plessis, HR Manager at De Keur Group, supporting the financial health of employees is part of building a stronger, more engaged workforce.
Encouraging financial discipline among farm workers
De Keur Group partnered with Picsa in 2019 to help employees shift toward healthier financial habits. “We often sit around the management table and ask ourselves how we can help our employees access money in the right way,” says Johan.
“Picsa offered exactly that - a responsible way for employees to manage their money without turning to loan sharks or paying unnecessary interest.”
Before Picsa, many employees were burdened by personal debt. “Our goal was to help employees get rid of debt,” Johan explains. “What stood out for us about Picsa was the concept of reducing debt and encouraging people to buy responsibly, and only when they have the money to do so.”
Through Picsa’s short- and long-term investment products, emergency savings, funeral cover, and responsible loans, employees now have safe, flexible ways to plan and save. The short-term investment option has become particularly popular among De Keur employees and helps them prepare for seasonal breaks or family needs.
How Picsa reduced employee debt and loan requests
De Keur Group employees hard at work
Since introducing Picsa, De Keur has noticed a remarkable shift in employee behaviour. “We receive far fewer, if any, loan requests,” Johan says. “It certainly helps them to deal with unexpected financial crises in a more healthy and respectable way.”
This change has had a visible ripple effect across the business. “Less financial stress means happier employees, and in turn, that improves productivity and morale. You can see it in the way people show up at work.”
Seasonal employees have also embraced the habit of saving. “Many of our seasonal workers join Picsa as soon as they receive their first paycheck,” says Johan. “By the time the season ends, they’ve built up savings to take home. It’s become a cycle of healthy financial behaviour among the workers on our farms.”
Rosie’s saving success story
Rosie Lebaka proudly sharing her savings journey with Picsa
Suné de Klerk, Wage Manager at De Keur Estate, shared one of the success stories that best captures the value of Picsa’s services:
“Rosy Lebaka works in our office. Ever since she joined Picsa, she’s been saving faithfully. For her, it used to be such a struggle to get to the bank on Saturdays to deposit her savings. Since joining Picsa, the process is so much easier for her. She simply sends a message to Picsa to withdraw her investment when she needs it. Every June, when she goes home to Sterkspruit, she has enough savings to take care of her children and family. And she’s not the only one. Others who go home for the holidays do the same.”
This ease of access has given employees more control over their finances and has instilled more pride in their ability to plan ahead. “You can see the difference,” Johan adds.
“Employees are making provision in advance rather than borrowing. And to us, that’s evidence of their personal growth.”
Building community through saving
De Keur Packaging team building event
De Keur has also implemented Picsa’s Community Rewards Programme, where members of the workers’ committee help recruit new sign-ups. For every new enrollment, the farm receives a small rebate that goes back into community projects. “It’s a wonderful way to make a big difference,” says Johan. “Our farms are similar to small towns, and when we invest back into our communities, we’re improving the quality of life for everyone.”
The programme has even funded team-building activities and farm-level initiatives, turning savings into something tangible that benefits both individuals and the community.
Why De Keur values its partnership with Picsa
From Johan’s perspective, working with the Picsa team has been a consistently positive experience.
One of the biggest advantages is the direct relationship between employees and Picsa. “All communication happens between the employee and Picsa,” Johan explains. “That means employees take responsibility for their own decisions, and it removes administrative pressure from our HR and finance teams. It’s definitely a win-win partnership for us.”
The process itself is straightforward. Picsa manages employee accounts directly, ensuring that salary deductions are processed easily, in line with all legal requirements and with management oversight. There’s no need for additional administration or reconciliations from De Keur’s side, just a smooth, compliant system that supports employees’ financial wellbeing with minimal effort from the employer.
Looking ahead
De Keur’s focus on employee wellbeing goes beyond financial products and forms part of a broader commitment to emotional and social wellness. “In recent years, we’ve seen a growing need to support both the emotional and financial wellbeing of our employees,” Johan says. “Among others, we integrate financial education and stress management into our training strategy because we want employees to be independent and stand on their own feet. Picsa plays an important role in that journey.”
As a business rooted in quality, care, and community, De Keur Group understands that good things take time and attention. Supporting employee wellbeing through financial health is just one more way they’re investing in long-term growth, for their people, their farms, and the future.
For more information about De Keur Group, visit www.dekeur.com