At Remhoogte Boerdery, a fruit farm in the Western Cape, the desire to help employees save arose from a genuine concern for their wellbeing. Today, they are strong advocates for improving workers’ financial health through structured, accessible support, and they’ve found a valuable partner in Picsa to help make that possible.
Says Liezl van Schoor, Financial Manager at Remhoogte, “As early as 2012, the management team recognised how difficult it was for many workers to access formal banking services. The farm tried to assist by managing savings internally, but legal restrictions around interest and pay-outs meant this couldn’t continue. Instead, Remhoogte brought in external facilitators to provide training on personal financial management, hoping to equip our workforce with the tools to make better financial decisions.”
It was around this time that Picsa visited Remhoogte with a proposal that matched what the farm had been working toward. Picsa's approach focused on the role employers could play in helping workers develop consistent saving habits.
““Picsa was working on exactly the issue we were concerned about, which was helping workers save, but with the employer playing a central role.””
Debt challenges created operational strain
Liezl recalls the real difficulties the farm was facing as a result of the financial pressures their workers were experiencing. “Workers frequently changed their banking details to avoid automatic deductions, making payroll difficult to manage. On payday mornings, many left early to draw their wages before creditors could reach them, causing late arrivals at work. Management also had to deal with frequent personal loan requests, especially when families were dealing with medical emergencies or funeral costs.”
““People felt they had no way out. They didn’t know what their credit status was or how to fix it.””
What changed with Picsa
Introducing Picsa made it easier for workers to manage their own finances, and easier for the farm to manage its people. Says Liezl, “Workers now interact with Picsa directly, without involving HR. Their contact details have become more consistent, enabling reliable communication through WhatsApp. Admin tasks that once required constant updates and adjustments have become more streamlined.”
Remhoogte covers all Picsa-related costs, so employees can use the services without worrying about fees. The partnership also helped pave the way for debt consolidation, giving many workers the chance to settle their debts and create more breathing room in their budgets.
““There’s definitely more continuity now. We don’t see the same scramble every payday. Workers aren’t running anymore.””
Savings that meet the needs of blue collar workers
Picsa’s short-term savings option has become the most widely used option among Remhoogte’s workers. Even those who are employed seasonally are familiar with the process and sign up for savings as soon as they start. During the harvest period, Remhoogte pays between R180,000 and R200,000 every two weeks to Picsa on behalf of workers who are actively saving.
By the end of the year, many have built up enough to cover December holiday needs or back-to-school expenses in January. Instead of depending on loans to manage these costs, workers are able to use what they’ve set aside themselves.
A shift in confidence
Says Liezl, “While the farm still supports employees in times of family crisis, many are now better equipped to handle unexpected expenses on their own. Whether it’s contributing to a funeral or buying a school uniform, they can rely on their savings rather than turning to management for help.”
Why Remhoogte recommends Picsa
“If someone asked me whether they should partner with Picsa, I’d say yes — because it empowers your workers. It gives them control. And when people feel they have control over their finances, they carry themselves differently”, says Liezl.
Becoming financially healthy positively affects the whole person. It touches productivity, work attendance, relationships, and dignity. For Remhoogte, working with Picsa has created lasting value for the business and its people.