Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Websites, Portfolios, Profiles
Certification
Languages
References
Interests and Hobbies
Timeline
Generic

Onele Ludidi

PRETORIA

Overview

5
5
Languages
1
1
Certification
12
12
years of professional experience

Work History

Assistant Director: Forest Management Planning

Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Pretoria, Gauteng
09.2023 - Current
  • Effectively communicate targets and deadlines with regional planners, foresters, and other colleagues in the department through emails and telephones.
  • Worked within applicable standards, policies and regulatory guidelines to promote a working environment conducive to effective commercial forestry planning forestry.
  • Maintain the growing stock database management system (Microforest) monthly or as and when new and verified data is submitted.
  • Procure the Detailed Analysis and Cost Benchmark Report from FES by following supply chain procurement processes.
  • Extract reports and interpret Microforest data.
  • Calculate plantation valuations in compliance with Chapter 11 of the Modified Cash Standard and Generally Recognised Accounting Practice (GRAP) Treasury Regulations as well as the Public Finance Management Act, 1 OF 1999 (PFMA).
  • Conduct data integrity audits in various plantations to maintain accuracy of biological assets data.
  • Compile Back to Office Reports after field visits and capture random sampling data on Microforest.
  • Conduct random sampling in the regions; assist in making recommendations regarding random sampling and follow up on the recommendations made.
  • Review Policy and Standard Operating Procedures reviews (Biological Asset Valuation procedure manual, Accounting Framework for Planning and Auditing) for the Planning section.
  • Conduct field data verifications of biological assets in the Department's plantations in the regions, ensuring that operations are in compliance with PCI&S prescriptions and proper record keeping is done (Eastern Cape, KwaZulu Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and North-West)
  • Provide inputs in Growing Stock Management Plans for regional plantations that have been handed over to communities
  • Organised and conducted planning training interventions and work sessions with regional planners for biological asset valuation.
  • Conduct stock enumerations and capture enumeration data on Microforest for plantations managed by the department in the regions.
  • Compile Annual Plan of Operations (APO) for individual plantations and regions thereof, in collaboration with the foresters using Microforest.
  • Develop audit action plans and address audit findings raised by AGSA or internal Audit, regarding forestry planning.
  • Co-ordinate re-mapping of DFFE Commercial plantations.
  • Participate in developing standby and Loss policies.
  • Provide biological asset valuation support for plantations earmarked for Section 42 transfers.

Acting Deputy Director of Forest Management

Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Manning
10.2026 - 10.2027
  • Manage regional forest management planning officials
  • Develop Standard Operating Procedures to be used in the daily operations of the section.
  • Facilitate and support the review of forestry planning standards and procedures.
  • Provide oversight on biological asset valuation processes and data verification.
  • Coordinate implementation of PCI&S and sustainable forest management requirements.
  • Manage stakeholder engagement with regional forestry offices and other sector stakeholders.
  • Support audit readiness and implementation of corrective action plans according to the AGSA Audit Report for the past financial year.
  • Quality assure invoices submitted by appointed service providers prior to submitting for authorization.
  • Co-ordinate stock-enumeration operations at regional level with the regional planners.
  • Facilitate plantation visits for random sampling by the appointed service provider for biological asset valuations.

Acting Deputy Director of State Forest Management

Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Tshimpopo
04.2025 - 07.2025
  • Provided strategic leadership and oversight of forest management planning, resource allocation and operational performance within state forest plantations.
  • Facilitated collaboration between the sub directorate and the Forest Development sub directorate for the transportation of communal members attending forestry operational training for post settlement support.
  • Approved and overseen the implementation of performance agreements for all officials within the Limpopo Region for the current financial year and review, monitor and approve performance improvement and catch-up plans arising from the previous financial year's performance assessment outcomes.
  • Managed stakeholder relations and collaborated with government entities, local communities, contractors and industry partners to promote effective forest stewardship.
  • Led and developed multidisciplinary teams, providing supervisory performance management and capacity-building initiatives.
  • Coordinated reporting on forestry operations and strategic projects to support departmental decision-making.
  • Facilitated the implementation of transformational community development and socio-economic initiatives linked to state forest management.
  • Oversaw the procurement of auxiliary equipment and materials for Makhad office maintenance.

Planning and Auditing Intern

Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Pretoria, Gauteng
08.2021 - 07.2023
  • Effectively communicate with regional planners, foresters, and other colleagues in the department through emails and telephones.
  • Worked within applicable standards, policies and regulatory guidelines to promote a working environment conducive to effective commercial forestry planning forestry.
  • Maintain the growing stock database management system (Microforest) on a monthly basis or as and when new and verified data is submitted.
  • Procure the Detailed Analysis and Cost Benchmark Report from Forestry ES by following supply chain procurement processes.
  • Extract reports and interpret Microforest data.
  • Calculate plantation valuations in compliance with Chapter 11 of the Modified Cash Standard and Generally Recognised Accounting Practice (GRAP) Treasury Regulations as well as the Public Finance Management Act, 1 OF 1999 (PFMA).
  • Conduct data integrity audits in various plantations in order to maintain accuracy of biological assets data.
  • Compile Back to Office Reports after field visits and capture random sampling data on Microforest.
  • Conduct random sampling in the regions; assist in making recommendations regarding random sampling and follow up on the recommendations made.
  • Review Policy and Standard Operating Procedures reviews (Biological Asset Valuation procedure manual, Accounting Framework for Planning and Auditing) for the Planning section.
  • Conduct field data verifications of biological assets in the Department's plantations in the regions (Eastern Cape, KwaZulu Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and North-West).
  • Organised and conducted planning training interventions and work sessions with regional planners for biological asset valuation.
  • Conduct stock enumerations and capture enumeration data on Microforest for plantations managed by the department in the regions.
  • Compile Annual Plan of Operations (APO) for individual plantations and regions thereof, in collaboration with the foresters.
  • Develop audit action plans and address audit findings raised by AGSA or internal Audit, regarding forestry planning.

Supplemental Instruction (SI) Leader

Nelson Mandela University
George, Western Cape
02.2020 - 06.2020
  • Conducted tutorial services for National Diploma: Forestry students to provide academic support in Forest Mensuration.
  • Responded to after-hour emails and phone calls from students to provide assistance with specific questions related to coursework and understanding assignments.
  • Assisted lecturer with Forest Mensuration (National Diploma: Forestry) invigilation during tests and practical excursions.

Junior Harvesting Forester

Fynbos-lant&82cq Harvesting contractor (PGBison)
10.2018 - 09.2019
  • Compile Operation & Harvesting Plans (OHP)
  • Carry out activities as well as machine costing for harvesting operations.
  • Conduct pre-operation site inspections as well as safety talks with the team prior to the commencement of daily operations in the absence of the supervisor.
  • Set monthly and weekly volume production targets and monitor progress by conducting monthly and weekly volume reconciliation.
  • Attend quarterly safety meetings with the host company.
  • Control environment and spectator operations as per the Environmental Management System requirements and used the Integrated Management System
  • Manage subordinated development training needs and also ensure that discipline within the team is maintained all the time
  • Ensure that oil spillage were cleaned, removed and disposed correctly according to the Environmental Standards.
  • Ensure that vehicles and machinery maintenance were done according to the schedule.

Research Assistant

Nelson Mandela University
George, Western Cape
02.2018 - 03.2018
  • Data collection and sorting.
  • Reading and interpretation of plantation maps
  • Assist in scheduling daily activities and identifying data collection sites.
  • Offered technical assistance to an MTech Forestry student doing research on the classification of soils.

Student Forester

Merensky Timber (Singisi) Forestry company
Mthatha, Eastern Cape
04.2016 - 12.2016
  • Developed harvesting production plans, monthly production plans and summaries together the harvesting foresters.
  • I participated in employee training sessions, attended safety meetings with management and staff and ensured safety precautions were taken during operation.
  • Compiled Operational Harvesting Plans (OHP) and participated in harvesting, and silviculture tactical planning.
  • Compile fire protection plans and management and construct fire breaks in preparation for the fire season.
  • Participated in stock enumerations and the activities included Determining plot number and sizes, the sampling method, measuring tree height and diameter, volume calculations for individual compartments and consequently, plantations.
  • Participated in the planning of Silvicultural operations, execution of such plans and setting daily and weekly targets.
  • Supervise of all Silviculture tasked with activities including site preparation and planting.
  • Supervise harvesting teams working with Skyline, Urus and cable yarders semi-mechanised harvesting and compile production reports.

Education

National Diploma - Forestry

Nelson Mandela University
George
11-2022

High School Diploma -

St John's College
Mthatha
11-2014

Advanced Diploma - Forestry

Nelson Mandela University
George
02-2021

Skills

  • Microsoft Word: Very good
  • Microsoft Excel: Good
  • Microsoft PowerPoint: Very Good
  • Outlook: Very Good
  • Operation Planning: Good
  • Microforest: Good
  • Interpersonal communication: Very Good
  • Relationship building: Very Good
  • Valuation: Very Good

Websites, Portfolios, Profiles

linkedin.com/in/onele-ludidi-a74066134

Certification

  • 2021-10 Public Finance Management Act, 1 of 1999
  • 2022-08 Introduction to Business Financial Management
  • 2023-03 Ethics in Public Services.
  • 2025-06 Microsoft Excel Advanced
  • 2025-06 Bid Committees

Languages

English: VeryGood
Afrikaans: Good
IsiZulu: VeryGood
IsiXhosa: Excellent
Tswana: Good

Interests and Hobbies

Soil science: Soil Nutrition, Programming, Biomass harvesting systems: feasibility, Hiking, Outdoor Camping

Timeline

Acting Deputy Director of Forest Management

Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
10.2026 - 10.2027

Acting Deputy Director of State Forest Management

Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
04.2025 - 07.2025

Assistant Director: Forest Management Planning

Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
09.2023 - Current

Planning and Auditing Intern

Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
08.2021 - 07.2023

Supplemental Instruction (SI) Leader

Nelson Mandela University
02.2020 - 06.2020

Junior Harvesting Forester

Fynbos-lant&82cq Harvesting contractor (PGBison)
10.2018 - 09.2019

Research Assistant

Nelson Mandela University
02.2018 - 03.2018

Student Forester

Merensky Timber (Singisi) Forestry company
04.2016 - 12.2016

National Diploma - Forestry

Nelson Mandela University

High School Diploma -

St John's College

Advanced Diploma - Forestry

Nelson Mandela University
Onele Ludidi