08/05/2026
CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE: Willie van den Heever
Today we salute a true cornerstone of the Sonop Farms family.
A decade ago, May 2016 Willie joined the team as a young, unmarried, energetic guy and hit the ground running. He started his journey on one of the vegetable divisions farming under net houses, but through grit, loyalty, and passion, he has risen to become one on our top Senior Management
What a journey it has been watching him grow. Your hard work, positive attitude, problem solving attitude, your love for people and passion for life made this team better every day.
Willie is the perfect blend of serious dedication and great humour. Whether he’s solving a complex issue or lightening the mood with a joke, he brings a unique "flavour" to our team that makes the hard work feel like fun.
A Power Couple & Pillars of the Community We also want to honour the incredible journey of Willie and his wife, Christelle. Since their wedding on 25 March 2017, they have been an unstoppable team. Beyond their massive contribution to Sonop, but also to the broader community.
Christelle, thank you for being the steadfast support behind Willie during those long farming hours and learning curves. Together, they are blessed with a beautiful family with Hannes (8) and Lize (5), who we are so proud to have as part of our farm legacy.
Willie, thank you for 10 years of commitment, passion, and leadership. We are honoured to have you on our Senior Management team and can’t wait to see what the next decade holds!