I did agriculture at school, but, at that stage in my life, I didn’t like it very much. In those days, girls did needlework and boys did agriculture. Students had no choice in the matter and none of us were happy to be there. Part of the problem was that we did the work, but we didn’t get to keep the vegetables that we grew. At the end of each term, students would be marked on their output, but it was the teachers who would take it all home. As you can imagine, that was demotivating for us kids. 

I only came to appreciate the importance of farming much later in life through my membership of the Thusanang Communal Property Association (CPA). The CPAs were established in 1995 as part of the government land reform programme. My family was eligible for land restitution, so we became part of a CPA that has 60 beneficiaries and approximately 780 hectares. I am mindful of the opportunity the CPA brings me and my family and I am determined to make the most of it.

I am currently only working three hectares, but my plan is to expand that over time. The land has great potential. It could be used for chickens or cattle farming but so far, I am only crop farming on a relatively small area. I grow spinach, lettuce, beetroot, carrots, tomatoes and chilies which I sell to small shop keepers and hawkers. Customers place an order, tell me how much they want, and I harvest accordingly. That business is working quite well, but I am interested in expanding into the organic farming sector. I can see that customers will pay a premium for organic ingredients, and it seems sensible to move in that direction. The hawkers and spaza shop type customers are fine, but I am convinced that the real money is to be found amongst that Woolworths type prestige product buyers.