MEDIA RELEASE

Roggeveld, Brandvalley, and Rietkloof Bursary Programme Lights the Way for Karoo Youth

Cape Town, 11 February 2026: As the nation awaits the upcoming State of the Nation Address on 12 February, education remains firmly at the forefront of the public discourse, alongside the drive for sustainable energy solutions. The Roggeveld, Brandvalley, and Rietkloof Bursary Programme embodies these priorities, showing how investment in renewable energy projects such as wind farms can extend beyond power generation to empower young people in disadvantaged communities. By supporting access to higher education, the programme demonstrates how clean energy initiatives can help light the way for South Africa’s future leaders.

This is the case for 15 new students who have received study bursaries from the Roggeveld, Brandvalley, and Rietkloof Bursary Programme. In collaboration with Study Trust, Red Rocket – an integrated Independent Power Producer and NERSA-licensed electricity trader – recently held a bursary launch and handover ceremony in Laingsburg for this year’s cohort, who form part of a total of 38 realising their dreams, thanks to the programme.

This marks the fifth year that the bursary programme has been running, starting with Roggeveld Wind Farm as the sponsor project, and later including Brandvalley and Rietkloof wind farms from the year 2025. Among the attendees at the Stephanus Greeff Hall were the Executive Mayor of Laingsburg, Aletta Theron; the Executive Mayor of the Karoo Hoogland Local Municipality (which includes Sutherland), JJ van der Colff; community stakeholders; Red Rocket and Study Trust representatives; this year’s bursary recipients; current and former students, and parents.

The Mayors delivered the welcoming addresses, expressing their pride in the students embarking on their new journeys. “We believe in the role of talented and skilled young people, and commend them for their hard work, perseverance, and potential. I encourage them to see challenges not as barriers, but stepping stones to success,” said Theron.

Red Rocket’s Economic Development representatives from the Asset Management team said the bursary programme benefited more than just the students, but the rural towns of Laingsburg, Matjiesfontein, and Sutherland, which are in close proximity to where the Roggeveld, Brandvalley, and Rietkloof wind farms are located.

Red Rocket’s Economic Development and Compliance Manager, Cheryl Persensie, said this was the beginning of many of the youth’s lives, and acknowledged the milestone didn’t come without personal struggles, citing the hardship of rural upbringing.

“To the students, I would like to say, ‘this is only the beginning of your journey; the hard work is lying ahead. In the end, it is all worth it’.”
Study Trust Manager, Tracy September, praised the partnership with Red Rocket, stressing the importance of education and creating role models in the communities in the Karoo. It aimed not only to cater for tuition, but to offer a holistic approach to education, covering food and living allowances, accommodation, and psychosocial support, she said.

“Our partnership with Red Rocket has enabled us to give students the opportunity to become positive contributors to the broader economy. We continue to proudly walk this road in providing the necessary life skills and psychosocial tools they need to succeed.
“Since the programme started, we are proud to say that we have a total of five graduates, and we anticipate a further four graduates this year,” she said, expressing the pride of seeing the students become better versions of themselves.

Tsholofelo Moote, Red Rocket’s Economic Development and Community Manager, spoke of the need to invest in dreams and strengthen communities for generations to come.

“That is why our presence in Sutherland, Matjiesfontein, and Laingsburg goes beyond turbines and infrastructure. We are here to partner with you, to grow with you, and to create shared value,” she said.

During the event, current beneficiaries and graduates reflected on their educational journeys, sharing stories of resilience and success due to the bursary programme’s support. The event culminated in the top academic achievers of 2025 being celebrated, with gifts including laptops, power banks, laptop bags, and other essentials presented to them. The achievers are Fenicia Baadtjies (Rietkloof – BA English at Unisa), Jada Matthews (Brandvalley – Nated, Tourism at Boland TVET College), Henrique Isaacs (Brandvalley – Bachelor of Education at Unisa), Rome Willemse (Brandvalley – Diploma, Law at Unisa), Gail Hass (Roggeveld – Bachelor of Education at Unisa), Ashunique Smit (Roggeveld – BA Environment Management at Unisa), and Ridowhan Baardman (Roggeveld – BCom Accounting at Sol Plaatjie University).

Stellenbosch University Law graduate, Rasheed Lowe, reflected on his studies and thanked the programme for making higher education accessible to him, along with the opportunities afforded to him along the way. “I was able to grow through the various workshops that I attended, which helped me to become better in many areas of my life,” he said.

Along with the bursary programme, Red Rocket’s social initiatives have created a difference in childcare, early childhood development, skills development as part of an internship programme, and enterprise development.

“We ensure that all our initiatives are holistic, not as isolated agents but ensuring support of the entire life journey of our community members,” said Moote, adding that the proceedings of the day, including catering and event coordination, were organised with the help of local businesses.

The event closed with Fezeka Rayi, Director of Professional Development in the Western Cape Government’s Department of Public Works, imparting knowledge about the importance of good character in her keynote address. This was accompanied by other useful steps the young achievers and new beneficiaries would face in life.
The three wind farms contribute a combined nameplate capacity of 435MW (420MW contracted) to the national grid, with Brandvalley and Rietkloof wind farms having been developed as part of the Red Rocket Consortium, with African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM) through its IDEAS Fund, Jade-Sky Energy, and the Red Rocket Opportunity Trust, with Red Rocket Energy as the majority partner.

Roggeveld Wind Farm was developed with Red Rocket and AIIM’s IDEAS Fund. Other key shareholders include H1 Holdings, the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) managed by the Public Investment Corporation (PIC), and local communities via the Roggeveld Wind Power Trust.

For Media Enquiries, Contact:

Red Rocket Energy (Pty) Ltd
Contact Person: Chanel Ponto
Via: c.ponto@redrocket.energy
Mobile: 066 262 2586

About Red Rocket

Red Rocket is an integrated Independent Power Producer and NERSA-licensed electricity trader that’s on a mission to provide clean energy to Africa. We’re a force to be reckoned with in Africa’s renewable energy market, with a renewable energy portfolio of 5.3GW of projects in operation, under construction, or awarded preferred bidder, and ready to reach financial close across Africa. Red Rocket’s growth strategy is based on pursuing a balanced portfolio of renewable assets, market maturity, as well as currency exposure (ZAR, USD, and EUR).