Thandekile Alinah Mosi, who was born in Soweto, runs a mixed farming operation in the rural town of Thabazimbi, Limpopo. After the challenges of the Covid-19 lockdown and the tragic loss of her husband, she is now focused on producing sunflowers and raising cattle.
By Montsho Matlala
Thandekile Alinah Mosi, who studied law at the University of Limpopo, has chosen a path that leads her away from courtrooms and boardrooms. Instead, she spends her days in fields of sunflowers, often dusty and sometimes marked by cow dung, and within kraals and grazing areas. Despite the challenges, she cherishes every moment spent with her herd of cattle, tending to the sunflowers and working with her team. Her passion stems from her desire to create a lasting legacy and provide sustainable livelihoods.
Young Thandekile is the current owner, or rather a lessee, of more than 1 000ha (Portion 1) of the farm Noord-Braband located just outside Thabazimbi in the Waterberg District of Limpopo. She has been farming dry land sunflowers and a herd of Bonsmara cattle since arriving on the land in March 2024.
“The soil here is generous, the sun is faithful and the local community members embrace me with open arms. So I am proudly in mixed farming, specialising in dry land sunflower production on 500ha. The sunflowers are vibrant, strong and always reaching for the sun, just like me,” she says.
“On the livestock side I have a herd of 96 Bonsmara cattle on the farm. They are known for their adaptability and top-notch beef quality,” she says.
How Thandekile’s Journey Started
Born and bred in Diepkloof Zone 4 in Soweto in Gauteng 29 years ago, Thandekile is now happy to be running farming operations on a piece of land. She began to follow her dreams of becoming a farmer in 2022 at the end of the Covid-19 lockdown in South Africa.
“Life had slowed down after the pandemic and for the first time in a while I had space to reflect on my purpose, my future and the kind of legacy I want to build. That quiet moment of clarity led me straight to the land,” she says.
But the core of the legacy she nurtures on the land is also deeply rooted in personal emotions. It is a tribute to her late husband, who shared her desire to farm from the outset.
“My husband had a farming background and introduced me to this field of agriculture and the soil hasn’t let go of me since then. He did not have formal training in farming but had great passion for crop management, communication, problem-solving, organisational skills and adaptability to handle the dynamic nature of farming. He tragically passed away in a car accident, leaving me with our two little boys just as our farming journey was starting to show promise.”
Bonsmara cattle and dry land sunflowers make Thandekile optimistic about her farming operations. Photos: Supplied
Market for her Sunflowers and Cattle
Thandekile mainly supplies the local markets with sunflowers and cattle.
“I sell my Bonsmara cattle at auctions and feedlots. Currently I only have a bakkie and trailer to transport the animals to the markets. I am also ready for negotiations with individuals wanting a cow for rearing or slaughtering. And for the dry land sunflowers, Olam South Africa is our biggest buyer,” she says.
The current operations allow her to employ four full-time employees and 15 part-time workers.
Farming Equipment and Services
For now, Thandekile does not have enough equipment and implements to run a full-scale farming operations, but she relies on help and at times hires some machinery.
“I don’t have my own harvesting machinery to harvest sunflowers because of financial challenges, so I usually join forces with nearby commercial farmers. We either rent equipment together or borrow from someone who has it. These farmers around here have been immensely helpful thus far. I must praise them, honestly.”
And when the cows get sick or have any health problems, she usually turns to government veterinarians from the Limpopo Department of Agriculture.
“Vets from the government are very helpful but they are [in short supply] and are not always available, so when something is urgent we sometimes call private vets, at considerable costs. Otherwise experienced farmers around me also share valuable advice based on what they know about animal health.”
Thandekile knows that a sick animal must be separated from the flock whenever possible. “I don’t have proper quarantine yet, but I use fenced-off corners to keep sick animals away from others until they recover or get medical treatment for their sickness.”
When it comes to dead animals, she makes sure the carcass is disposed of safely, without allowing anyone to consume the meat or take it home to feed their dogs.
“We dig deep burial pits far from the kraals and water sources. We also make sure we follow [the procedures that] the local vets recommend so that we avoid spreading diseases. Sometimes we call the municipality to come [and give us] further assistance in terms of environmental safety.”
Although she hopes to own enough farming machinery one day, Thandekile is grateful to be part of a community of farmers who help one another by loaning or hiring equipment. Photos: Supplied
Training and Mentorship
With no formal training in farming, Thandekile empowers herself by attending workshops and training sessions organised by both the Limpopo and national departments of agriculture and rural development.
“Emerging farmers like me and our workers also get training and tips on farming from some nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) when they come to our areas. Some bigger farmers also give us space to join their training sessions if possible, and that is a very good gesture. I must also mention that online videos and community WhatsApp groups also help us learn a lot in this field of farming.”
She says that working together with other farmers as a community, where honesty prevails, keeps agricultural production thriving. “We share knowledge, tools and even labour when needed. In farming, you’re always learning something new from other farmers and workers.”
Help from Government
Thandekile acquired the farm through the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development. “I am a beneficiary of the department’s farm-leasing scheme, which is aimed at empowering young farmers like me to get a foot on fertile ground. Officials from the Department of Agriculture have started to supply us with fertiliser and drought feed for the cows.”
Nnditsheni Melton Tshililo, the acting chief director of the Provincial Shared Services Centre (PSSC) within the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development (DLRRD) in Limpopo, praised Thandekile for maintaining and working the land despite not receiving any financial assistance from the department.
“Based on the good quality of her grain, livestock and overall condition of the farm, this young lady fits the profile of a successful commercial farmer in the making,” he said.
In addition to the leased land from the government, Thandekile was able to raise her own start-up capital to launch her farming operations.
“From the sales generated on the farm I have to pay workers and other expenses, then reinvest the remainder into the business operations. I have realised that a farmer with a real burning desire to feed the nation has very little or nothing at all to spend on luxuries. Working, training, reinvesting, wise planning and passion are essential in this field,” she says.
Challenges
According to Thandekile, lack of water rights and sufficient water sources remain her biggest challenges on the farm. “We have two boreholes on the farm, but only one is working. We use the borehole water for the livestock. For the grain, we depend on natural rainfall. Water scarcity, bad weather conditions, lack of funding as well as high input costs all add to the constraints that hinder better outcomes. Also, access to markets as a woman, and getting fair prices as a small-scale farmer, are not always easy.
“Women often do a lot of the work behind the scenes – planting, feeding animals and bookkeeping – but are rarely recognised as farmers. We need more targeted funding programmes for women and better access to land. Training, mentorship and networking opportunities are very important. The future of farming is female and fearless – if only authorities and the private sector can recognise this potential,” she says.
Thandekile worked as a compliance officer at a security company from 2018, and says she still works there when she’s not at the farm.
Thandekile’s future plans include extending the arable land and having more markets for her farming produce. She would also like to venture into stud breeding. Photos: Supplied
Dreams and Future Plans
Thandekile dreams of growing her farming operations, but for now she is learning as much as she can. She says her future plans include expanding the arable land, adding irrigation, increasing her cattle numbers and venturing into stud breeding, as well as improving the genetics of her Bonsmara herd. She also aims to master farming skills, such as operating tractors and other machinery, and would like to be able to assist her animals when they give birth.
“Farming has taught me patience and purpose. Agriculture needs young people with big visions and brave hearts,” Thandekile believes.
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