How determination, diversification and the guidance of mentor Success Mdluli helped Zanele Motau turn her childhood love of agriculture into a growing farming venture.
By Maphuti Mongatane, business development manager at African Farming
Just off the Boekenhout off-ramp in Hammanskraal lies a strikingly green and productive farm. Barley stretches across the land, alongside rows of spinach and free-range laying hens – the result of determination, diversification and a willingness to learn. Behind the operation is Zanele Motau, whose passion for agriculture began during childhood visits to her grandmother.
Watching her grandmother plant, harvest and put food on the family table sparked a love for farming that never disappeared. Agriculture was one of her strongest subjects at school, and she later studied animal science. A successful young farmer eventually showed her that agriculture could be both a passion and a viable business.
Zanele returned home determined to own and operate a farm. Her father was initially sceptical. His experience of farming had largely been shaped by rural households that produced food for themselves or that sold livestock when money was needed for essentials. He didn’t immediately see farming as a structured commercial business.
Zanele, however, was determined to prove otherwise.
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Starting with what she had
Like many emerging farmers, Zanele did not start with sophisticated machinery, substantial capital or a large commercial operation. An extension officer encouraged her to begin with what she had: start a garden, work one hectare and learn through practical experience.
“I wanted to do something, so I took the advice and made sure that my hands got dirty,” she says. “Those dirty hands brought a better life for me and my family. Since then, I haven’t looked back.”
That first hectare became her classroom, teaching her that farming requires discipline, planning, patience and resilience. As her experience grew, so did the scale and diversity of the operation.
Today, the farm produces barley and spinach, and runs a free-range egg enterprise. Spinach and eggs are particularly important for cash flow because they can generate income more regularly than field crops, which may take months to harvest.
For Zanele, diversification means reducing the risk of relying on a single enterprise and creating income at different times of the year.
Also read: Expert advice from Success Mdluli, project manager of the Zamukele programme
Taking a chance on dry white beans
A significant development in Zanele’s journey came when she was introduced to Success Mdluli, head of the Schoeman Group’s Zamukele project, which supports emerging farmers with practical agricultural guidance, production planning, commercial discipline and access to market opportunities.
Success visited Zanele’s farm and quickly recognised her commitment. She was already producing, learning and looking for opportunities to expand.
Through the Zamukele project, she took on the challenge of producing dry white beans – a new crop that presented both opportunity and risk. Although she had access to about 41 hectares, she understood that planting an unfamiliar crop across the entire area could expose the business unnecessarily. With Success’s guidance, she worked through the production process while building her knowledge and connecting the crop to a market.
“What I appreciated most was his turnaround time,” she says.
“Whenever I sent him something or called him, he responded quickly and advised me on what to do. I never felt as though I was alone.”
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Lessons from a difficult harvest
The four-month bean production cycle tested Zanele, particularly during harvesting.
The crop had to be harvested by hand, requiring considerable labour, coordination and careful timing.
On one particularly difficult day, a truck arrived to collect the beans but the loading process did not go according to plan.
After the pressure of the hand harvest and logistics, Zanele became overwhelmed and burst into tears.
Today, she laughs about the experience, but the harvest taught her valuable lessons about labour, time management, logistics and planning. It also reinforced the value of having a mentor who was available when problems arose.
“He gave me courage,” she says. “As a young person, when you have people who are genuinely willing to walk the journey with you and lift you up, it makes a difference.”
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Mentorship that goes beyond advice
For Zanele, Success’s value lies in his agricultural knowledge as well as his responsiveness and willingness to ask difficult questions.
Farmers constantly face decisions involving planting, crop protection, labour, harvesting, transport and markets.
Waiting for the next scheduled farm visit can be costly when an urgent problem arises.
Success combines practical guidance with accountability. He assesses whether farmers are ready to expand and encourages them to establish the systems needed to support sustainable growth.
“You need the correct advice so that you do not fail,” Zanele says.
“You also need the courage to step outside your comfort zone and learn from people who understand the industry.”
Growing people alongside crops
The farm’s impact extends beyond production. It creates employment for people from the surrounding community and provides practical experience to agricultural students, including students from Tshwane University of Technology.
Managing people has also shaped Zanele as a farmer. She has learnt to balance compassion with accountability, while recognising that agriculture depends heavily on timing.
“You cannot be everyone’s friend and still manage the operation properly,” she says. “You must be able to give instructions, but you must also understand people, encourage them and know how to balance everything.”
Farming with a market in mind
One of Zanele’s most important lessons has been that production must be connected to a market from the outset.
Farmers need to consider the intended market before planting, including production volumes, quality requirements, labour, inputs, harvesting, transport and costs. Her experience with dry white beans reinforced the importance of coordinating every part of the production chain before expanding.
The same commercial discipline applies to her barley, spinach and free-range eggs. Each enterprise must contribute to the farm’s overall sustainability.
This reflects the broader purpose of the Zamukele project.
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No substitute for doing the work
Zanele is already thinking about future production cycles, new market opportunities and how the farm can benefit the surrounding community.
Her advice for aspiring farmers is simple: do not wait for perfect conditions to begin. Starting small does not mean thinking small.
Her own journey began with one hectare and a willingness to get her hands dirty.
At the same time, she encourages farmers to seek knowledge, build strong relationships and remain open to correction.
“Keep looking for people who are committed and who genuinely want to see others succeed,” she says.
For Zanele, finding that support through Success and the Zamukele project provided more than technical advice. It gave her the confidence to keep moving when farming became difficult.
Her story shows what is possible when determination is matched with practical mentorship. The farmer must still take the risks, make the sacrifices and do the work – but she does not have to walk the road alone.
A blueprint for farmer development
Agricultural development is often measured by hectares planted, tonnes harvested or the number of farmers supported.
While these indicators remain important, lasting success is measured by the number of farmers who gain the confidence, knowledge and business skills to build sustainable commercial enterprises.
This philosophy lies at the heart of this flagship farmer development initiative.
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A vision that took root
The origins of the Zamukele project can be traced back to 2018, when the Schoeman Group faced the loss of a portion of its farming operations. Rather than simply replacing what had been lost, the business saw an opportunity to invest in something with a far greater long-term impact.
It chose to leverage its infrastructure, expertise and industry relationships into creating a programme that would help emerging farmers become commercially successful producers.
Central to the programme’s success has been the leadership and commitment of Kallie Schoeman, chairman of Schoeman Group Holdings. The family business’s investment extends well beyond financial support. Thanks to more than a century of experience and a willingness to share knowledge, it has created an environment where emerging farmers receive practical mentorship, access to quality production systems and opportunities to participate meaningfully in commercial agriculture.
Also read: Schoeman urges farmers to take their seat at the table
Creating opportunities
For Success, agriculture has always been about learning, growing and creating opportunities for others.
After completing his agricultural studies at Tshwane University of Technology, he began his career as an intern on a commercial farm in Springs, where he gained practical experience in crop production. He later became a farm supervisor, before joining the Schoeman Group in a management role.
Today, he serves as project manager of Zamukele, leading the programme’s day-to-day implementation while building on the strong foundation laid by the Schoeman Group and the dedicated team that shaped the project from its inception.
Working closely with producers across several provinces, he oversees technical support, production planning, mentorship and market coordination, ensuring that participating farmers receive guidance throughout the production cycle.
His leadership has helped refine the programme while maintaining its core objective of creating independent, viable farming businesses rather than fostering dependence on ongoing support.
Also read: ‘How to build a sustainable farming enterprise’ – Success Mdluli, Schoeman Group
Support for farmers
During the early years of the Zamukele project, the focus was largely on supporting enthusiastic aspiring farmers.
The intention was commendable, but experience demonstrated that achieving sustainable commercial outcomes required participants who already possessed a basic level of production experience.
The project team evaluated the programme and adjusted its approach, placing greater emphasis on semi-commercial farmers with the potential to scale up their operations into viable businesses. The results were significant. Farmer performance improved, and production increased.
Today, Zamukele provides an integrated support system that includes quality seed, technical advice, production planning, mentorship and secure market access, enabling farmers to focus on building profitable enterprises.
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Partnerships that make a difference
Success believes successful farming depends on more than producing a good crop.
It also requires sound financial management, accurate production records, disciplined planning and informed business decisions.
The aim is to equip producers to operate independently, secure finance and negotiate confidently with buyers.
Success is equally convinced that meaningful agricultural transformation cannot be achieved by one organisation alone. The continued success of Zamukele reflects strong partnerships between commercial farmers, financial institutions, development organisations, input suppliers and market partners. Together, they provide the mentorship, technical expertise, finance and market access that emerging farmers need to succeed.
The Schoeman Group has played a leading role in building these relationships, recognising that collaboration creates far greater impact than any single organisation could achieve independently.
Although Zamukele is best known for developing white bean producers, its broader impact lies in helping farmers move from subsistence to commercial agriculture. Every profitable farming business creates jobs, strengthens food security and contributes to rural economies.
While Success encourages more people to pursue careers in agriculture, he is realistic about what farming demands. “People sometimes see the opportunities in agriculture without fully appreciating the sacrifices that come with them. There is no shortcut to success. Running a sustainable farming business demands discipline, resilience, long hours and constant problem-solving.”
For those seeking a career with predictable working hours or frequent holidays, agriculture may not be the right choice. But for people who are passionate about the land, committed to continuous learning and prepared to persevere through challenges, farming offers the opportunity to build something meaningful that can benefit families, communities and future generations.
For Success, being honest about both the opportunities and the sacrifices is one of the best ways to prepare the next generation of commercial farmers for long-term success.
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