The young feed the nation

When her father died and left her a farm GUGU NTSHINGILA did not sell it and chow the money like the prodigal son, but she left her burgeoning education career to get her hands dirty. Today she and her partner THOBILE LUMKAWANA are doing are thriving business as the only female farmers in the hydroponics farming out in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands. The two entrepreneurs spoke to Thembi Masser while they were in Gauteng looking for other business opportunities.

Gugu, 30, shy and reserved, knew from long ago that she had all the stars shining on her petite body. As early as when she was five years old she wanted to be a dentist.  But, bizarrely, she also dreamed that one day she could a white person and have lots of money and fly all over the world. But today she runs this farm where seed is not inserted in the ground but plants grow from bags and clay pots above the ground.

Hydroponics farming is a special farming project which, according to Thobile, is economical and the future industry in the farming sector. To start with it is not seasonal “In fact, it is the best way to farm, considering all the advantages,” Gugu says. Plants are not affected by the weather and this is a boon when they have a year-long supply contract with fresh fruit and vegetables retailers.   The harvesting is faster and is plenty because there is not so much loss.  The project is so cost-effective that very minimal equipment is needed for the day-to-day running of the farm and it saves water. “And there is no toyi-toyi here. Not because the labourers cannot do it, but because we have interns from all over South Africa coming here to get education while they get paid for it and gain valuable experience,” Gugu remarks.

The farm is accredited as a business and a training center with AgriSeta.

The farm is in Pietermaritzburg in the where the two ladies live with their four children at the moment. Gugu is from Umlazi Durban while Thobile is from Soweto. The name of the farm is derived from the Chichewa language, the language Thobile learnt while she was married in Malawi. It is called Wa-mai, which means fortune. Gugu inherited the farm in 2014 after the demise of her father. Her father ran the farm from 2002 and it was a successful enterprise which attracted retailers like Spar and the local Pick-n-Pay. It has also supplied food to the Ishonalanga Game reserve, lodging establishments and restaurants.  It is more than 2000 acres big and has four channels, two shaded and two under renovations as we speak.

‘We show gratitude to the interns we have here,” Gugu enthuses. She says they provide bedding and safety boots and blankest for them. “We are grateful for their presence here and do not bask in the sun and say the Seta pays them. No, we play our part meaningfully. The kitchens are fully kitted and they buy their own food while toiletry is optional. Sometimes, when we can, we provide it,” she laughs.

While Gugu wanted to be as pale as the white man and extract teeth for a living, she relishes the tasks they do at the farm and firmly believes in the future of the farm. “I get my hands dirty.” But surely it is in the office where she is well-acquitted. After matriculating at the Velabahleke High she enrolled for an educational degree at Unisa after a one year stint at Edgars. While studying at Unisa she facilitated at the Intuition College. At Intuition she taught public relations and communications.  

Upon completion of her teaching degree she then worked at KPC3 Professional accountants entrusted with the post of company registrations and funding.

“I suppose all of this start at high school where I did all these subjects. Her favourite subject was English, but biology, maths, accounting physical science and geography all play their part in her present occupation, which she hopes makes teachers at her primary school in Umlazi proud of her. “I am sure my favourite teacher at high school, Bongeka Mabaso raises my flag whenever the occasion calls for it.”

It is against all odds that she is where she is right now considering the tribulations black kids go through in their education. For instance there was no career guidance at Velabahleke.

Now, at the farm, it is all hands on deck.

Her partner, Thobile is more boisterous in presence. She is a Sowetan who has travelled Africa during her marriage to a Malawian politician. Thobile is an energetic 32 year-old who wished that one day she would don the uniform of flight attendants and fly all over the world. “I just liked the lithe bodies in these uniforms and would look endlessly at their pictures,” she whistles. At the same time she entertained her mother with the stories of wanting to study for law. “I wanted to study it in Nigeria.” Being a social worker was also in the mix. ‘The influence to be a social worker was from my auntie.”

In the beginning she did not finish her grade 12 studies “because I was going through some stuff.” But relief came in 2014 when she went to lifeline to work as a counselor. Earlier, in 2005, she got married.  The two established an NPO in Malawi, Hands of Hope, which ran for hour years. “We supported girls in our endevours to equip them with the necessary tools to conquer life while we led women in business.” They also supported children in school at the time. “I gave motivational talks and inspired many to look at the stars above. 

“In 2013 I separated from him and completed my matric then. Thereafter, in 23014, I went to LiifeLine.”   But LifeLine was not the solution. “I had to work to feed my three children and myself. So I went job hunting, which revealed a miracle although I did not know it at the time.’ Thobile found a job as a painter at MacJaz construction enterprise. She was the only female at the time at the site. She developed a passion for the job and not satisfied with her wages; she started her own construction company after only a few months at MacJaz. She employed two men and the three of them accepted any job offered to them. “But I am not ashamed to say I made money. We still do a trick or two when it is so possible,’” she sighs.

But life was not all that easy for the Sowetan. After her primary school at Entwandwini primary she went to PJ Simelane High where her subjects where tourism, geography, biology, history, Zulu and English. Maybe it is not only fate which brought them together in Daveyton, but the choice of their subjects might have played a major role in weaving their paths together. Geography and history were her favourite subjects while Bridget Marboom was her favourite teacher.

‘Today I am a director here at Wa-mwai and I do everything on the farm just like in my previous company. I am grateful to Gugu for her undying love to hold my hand to lead me through the intricacies of farming. And life.”

The two met in Daveyton earlier this year and since then have been inseparable in their quest to lay tracks for other female black farmers to feed the nation. Gugu is full of hope: “We want to expand and make forays into Africa as well.”