When Fransa Willemse (40) speaks about money, there’s no rehearsed script. Just honest reflection from someone who has lived both the pressure of uncertainty and the relief of having a plan. Originally from Lutzville and now living in Kuilsriver, Fransa has worked his way through the ups and downs of the fruit industry, raising a family while finding his feet after more than one company closure.
His career began at a wine cellar in the Western Cape. Later, he worked in fruit exports for nine years until the company closed down.
Today, he works as a packaging supervisor and maintenance lead at Six33, where he’s been employed since 2019. Fransa is happily married to Elaine, and they have two children.
Money problems
Before saving with Picsa, managing finances was a challenge.
““We lived from hand to mouth,” Fransa says. “It was tough. We were always stressed out because there was no plan B when it came to our finances. Debt kept piling up, and I had to repay money that I borrowed from one month to the next.””
He remembers how this cycle affected daily life at home. “If my wife wanted to buy something, I’d have to say no because we hadn’t budgeted for it. This created tension in our marriage.
Fransa continues, “You feel like you’re always catching up. When payday comes you’re already owing people. I’d think, ‘I still need to pay that guy R500 I borrowed mid-month,’ and then there’d be someone else. You can’t move forward. You just fall behind.”
When Picsa was introduced at work, he wasn’t immediately convinced. “I wasn’t sure if it would work for me. Eventually, I decided to give it a try.” He started by saving R500 a month and later increased his contribution to R1 000. “It felt like things changed overnight,” he says. “I remember telling my wife how relieved I felt. I don’t stress every month. Now, it feels like we live a normal life.”
A few months ago, he and his wife reminisced about how much creating a savings habit has helped them.
““When we don’t have money, we know there’s backup. We don’t need to go into debt to get what we need. I can laugh. I can smile. I’m a very family-oriented man. I love my family and I’d break my bones for them. Not everyone is able to save or take out funeral policies. I just thank the Father that I have a good job and I can save.””
Fransa enjoys his work at Six33
How it started
Fransa first heard about Picsa through a colleague during Six33’s off-season.
“We spoke about how I lost all my previous policies when I was retrenched. I had savings, funeral cover, retirement plans, and it was all gone due to a problem with my paperwork. I wanted to cash out my money to buy my wife a house. I cried and was so angry. It was devastating.” Later, the same colleague mentioned that farm workers were saving through Picsa.
“I asked if permanent employees could be included. Eventually, someone from Picsa came to speak to us. I told them I was interested. But I was still unsure. Life is full of scams. I almost waited for my colleagues to try it first, to see what happened. But then I decided to start small and see.”
That first year turned everything around for the Willemse family.
Savings made all the difference when tragedy struck
The year he started thinking seriously about saving was also the year he experienced deep personal loss.
“My cousin passed away and had no funeral cover, and the family had to contribute. I got frustrated and suggested we start a stokvel. Everyone agreed, but nothing happened,” Fransa says.
Then another relative passed away a short while after, and it was the same story. “I was already under pressure to help my family. Saving started to feel like the right thing to do.”
A third relative, Fransa’s brother, passed away. “Again, I had to help with funeral costs. I had a policy, but there were other expenses such as transport and I used my savings. That made a big difference.”
A while after, he recalls telling his wife, “We can buy groceries. We can even go out to eat.” And he didn’t need to borrow a cent. “We were covered.”
Keeping the future in mind
With emergency needs now covered, Fransa has shifted his focus to something more long-term.
“My goal now is to buy a proper house for my family. The house we live in is inherited. I didn’t work for it. I want to buy something that belongs to us - something small, but still ours. A place where no one can kick us out. I want my wife to feel safe and secure.”
He’s already used some of his savings for special family celebrations such as his son’s church confirmation. Says Fransa, “We bought a suit and food for the guests. It’s why the savings are there. But I told my wife, ‘we only touch it when we really need to.’”
Teaching kids to become financially healthy
Fransa and his wife now work from a monthly budget. “We write everything down. My wife checks what we still need at home and looks for specials. If there’s anything extra left, we plan something small for the family.”
He involves his children in financial conversations too.
“My daughter’s bike needs a new tube. I told her, ‘if you’d saved the R2’s you’ve asked for, you could have fixed it.’ I want them to learn what it means to save.”
His son washes the family bakkie once a week and earns a small amount. “He could save that. I tell him, ‘start your own carwash if you want to.’” He adds, “They see me working. But I tell them, ‘Daddy also has needs. So does Mommy. So does our household. You have to think before you spend.’”
Hard-earned advice
Fransa has recently begun thinking about retirement again. “I’m planning to join the long-term savings option with Picsa,” says Fransa. “I don’t want to leave my wife and children with nothing. The world out there is tough. If something happens to me, I want to know they’ll be okay.”
“Don’t overthink it. Just start,” says Fransa.
One year, he received a R100 voucher for being the best saver at Six33. “That felt good. But the real reward is knowing I can help when something goes wrong, and not have to go into debt.”
“You don’t have to do it all at once,” he says. “Start with something. And keep going.”