UFH enterprise Ukutya Kwemvelo shines at Enactus expo

25 July 2023

Ukutya Kwemvelo, an enterprise launched by the Enactus team at the University of Fort Hare (UFH), trades as Buxton Farm Fresh, an organic vegetable business headed by final-year economics student Tulani Qwesha.

Tulani Qwesha, a member of the Enactus team at UFH, made headlines last year when he commercialised his passion for farming by starting to grow and supply fresh produce to local retailers.

Now Ukutya Kwemvelo, which trades as Buxton Farm Fresh, has an award under its belt thanks to its performance at Enactus’s national expo held on July 19 at Sandton Convention Centre. 

Teams from across the country showcased innovative social entrepreneurship projects launched as part of the international non-profit organisation’s quest to improve the world through entrepreneurial action.

The UFH team, consisting of more than 60 students and alumni from all faculties, has three legacy projects involving grey water, fuel from plastics and eco-bricks.

It also has two companies: Ukutya Kwemvelo and Kuqhame Poultry, headed by Ophola Sinazo Siphanhlanga. Another company, StudyRem Enterprise, is in the concept phase, says Qwesha.

“With the help of faculty advisers, Enactus members ideate, create, register and grow social enterprises that respond to social, economic and environmental causes,” he says. 

“With the significant impact on global food security and the performance of the economy caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the team decided to come up with Buxton Farm Fresh to address this challenge. 

“We aim to improve the performance of the economy, not forgetting people’s lives, because we believe this goal cannot be achieved if our people are not on board. Hence, we ensure that we employ local people, engage them in our business endeavours and produce healthy organic vegetables to feed our nation.”

Qwesha says Harmony Gold sponsored the competition category his team and encouraged teams to develop social enterprises that tackle food security and access to health care. 

Enactus teams were assessed on:

• Entrepreneurial leadership: The ability to identify a need and capitalise on opportunities by taking personal responsibility, managing risk, and managing change.
• Innovation: The ability to develop processes, introduce new ideas, or improve existing ideas, services, technologies, products or methodologies.
• Use of business principles: The ability to applying a sound business model and business plan to ensure sustainability.
• Sustainable positive impact: The ability to demonstrate a measurable, lasting improvement for people, planet and prosperity.

“Our focus was to work hand-in-hand with communities to address challenges they face, thus creating job opportunities while encouraging healthy consumption,” says Qwesha.

“Considering the use of technology in farming, we sought to engage in agri-processing, starting with vegetable juice. As well, we acknowledge the importance of information, communication and technology in the fourth industrial revolution, hence we use technology to search for information, process it and make simulated business decisions to enhance performance.”

Qwesha says winning the category proves the team’s impact was visible and quantifiable. “We feel so proud and validated in our efforts to maintain high standards of food security and healthy consumption. We also feel a sense of accomplishment and recognition for our hard work in ensuring food security and adding value to the economy of South Africa, no matter how small the contribution is. 

“We encourage the students to join Enactus so that we grow the community of business leaders to achieve even more.”