In the heart of the Blouberg Local Municipality, outside Polokwane in Limpopo, a simple backyard garden started by the Masoga family to feed themselves has transformed into a thriving commercial farm. This success has created permanent and seasonal jobs for more than 100 people, thanks to a visionary partnership.
Zelda Masoga initially grew spinach in her backyard for her family. However, alongside her husband Andries, they expanded their small operation into a flourishing agricultural enterprise.
The farming journey of Zelda and Andries Masoga began in 2016 when community members began requesting Zelda’s surplus vegetables. As demand for their produce grew beyond the capacity of their small plot, the couple asked traditional leaders in Avon village within the Blouberg Local Municipality for additional farmland. They were granted 10ha, and by September 2017 they had successfully harvested their first commercial crops, which included tomatoes, carrots and butternut squash.
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The turning point came unexpectedly when Mozambican truck drivers discovered their tomato produce. Although the Masogas initially sold at very low prices, word spread quickly. Within months, more than 20 trucks were purchasing hundreds of crates of tomatoes, providing the couple with crucial start-up capital to reinvest in their operation.
However, expansion also came with its fair share of challenges. “The first major issues were machinery, lack of funding and theft,” Andries recalls. “Market access was also difficult – you need proper sorting equipment to compete with commercial farmers in the fresh produce markets.”
A major breakthrough came in 2022 when the couple joined De Beers Group’s Rural Farmer Capacity Development Programme, an initiative of Venetia Mine designed to support both emerging and experienced vegetable farmers in the Blouberg and Musina areas. The programme focuses on improving access to finance, markets, infrastructure and technical training to help farmers scale sustainably.
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“They started with us as emerging farmers and focused first on office work, financial management and record-keeping, before moving on to technical training,” says Andries. “This has helped us immensely from a business perspective, as we can now plan and grow with confidence. The learnings and training have really built our capacity to run a stronger, more successful business.”
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A Boost for the Region’s Economy
For Venetia Mine, the programme is about far more than just farming. “This support not only benefits individual farmers but also strengthens the overall economic landscape of the region, promoting development and resilience in local communities,” says Andy Cyster, Socio-economic Development Manager at Venetia Mine. “It also enhances food security by ensuring farmers have the resources and stability needed to produce and access safe, nutritious food consistently.”
The impact has been remarkable. From employing just one worker in their early days, the Masogas now have 10 permanent employees and hire up to 130 seasonal workers from the local community during peak production. Their operation has expanded to 150ha, with potatoes as their flagship crop. They supply multiple markets and have a formal contract with PepsiCo.
Looking ahead, Andries is optimistic about their trajectory. “In five to ten years, we’ll be fully commercial,” he says confidently. His advice to aspiring farmers is straightforward: “The only way to move up the ladder is by upskilling yourself. You can plant many crops, but without proper administration and financial understanding, it’s pointless.”
From humble beginnings in a backyard vegetable patch to a flourishing agribusiness that feeds families and creates jobs, the Masogas’ story is a shining example of what determination, training and the right partnerships can achieve in South Africa’s rural economy.
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