Our heritage
A federated body of growers, since 1968.
Four societies met in Bloemfontein on the 29th of July, 1968 to form a national council. Fifty-eight years later, that council coordinates twenty-one societies from the Cape to the Limpopo.
Our mission
SAOC has coordinated orchid cultivation across South Africa since 1968 — uniting affiliated societies in growing, showing, hybridising, and judging.
Our history
Founded in 1968, the Council has grown to coordinate orchid societies nationwide.
Our committee
David Naidoo
Treasurer
Dr. Annelie van der Merwe
President
Lindiwe Khumalo
Editor, Orchids South Africa
Margaret Oosthuizen
Secretary
Prof. Johan Botha
Chair of Judging
Sipho Mthembu
Vice-President
SAOC focuses on orchids in cultivation. For wild orchid identification, habitat, and conservation, visit our partner organisation Wild Orchids of Southern Africa (WOSA).