Neels Pretorius, born in Ellisras (Lephalale) in 1954, has a lifelong passion for agriculture, language, and community development.
He studied African languages at RAU and worked at the SABC for 12 years before moving to Vaalwater in 1989. There, he farmed, managed two butcheries, and worked as an auctioneer.
Since 2021, he has served as a full-time councillor in the Modimolle-Mookgophong Local Municipality across four portfolio committees. Fluent in six languages, Neels is recognized for his strong organizational, management, and communication skills.