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September 2018
18
New Era Commercial nominees
Paul Malindi
Agriculture has always been in Paul Malindi’s blood. He was born on 21 June 1969 on a farm
in the Heilbron district, where both his parents were farm workers. They were seven children
– four boys and three girls. His dad had a few head of cattle on the farm where he worked and
Paul had to look after them.
When he got the opportunity to lease some fields from another farmer, he immediately jumped
at the opportunity. In 2012, he was granted the farm, Dankbaar, by the Department of
Rural Development and Land Reform through the Proactive Land Acquisition Strategy
(PLAS) system.
The 441 ha farm has 320 ha good arable soil and 121 ha of grazing. Paul, who now is
48, leases 130 ha arable land and 170 ha of grazing. This year he planted 254 ha
sunflower and 216 ha maize.
Daniel Maqala
Daniel Maqala was born on a farm in the Ficksburg area to parents who were both farm workers. They were
four children – two boys and two girls. He used to work on the farm from a very young age, looking after
the cattle, milking cows and feeding chickens. His father drove a tractor and he used to sneak away to the
fields after school to ride with him.
This farmer purchased his own 197 ha farm, Kosmos, with a loan from Land Bank. The Department of
Rural Development and Land Reform supported him to obtain the farm, Die Hoop, on the PLAS system
– 326 ha – and he has since leased 186 ha of high potential fields near his farm.
Daniel currently farms on 709 ha. All the fields are well cultivated and well planted. He has
succeeded in making the transition from being a farmer to becoming a food producer, businessman
and entrepreneur. He plants five different types of crop and has a livestock component as part of
his farming operation.
Rykie Raphoto
Rykie Raphoto was born in the village of Rietfontein in the trust lands of the former Bophuthatswana.
While he was at school he had to help his father plough, plant and look after everything in their subsistence
farming enterprise. Working with his father during school holidays, had a huge impact on him and the love
that he developed for farming.
In 1991 Rykie decided to farm on his own with his son, William, assisting him in the farming operation.
They joined Grain SA at the time when the Farmer Development Programme commenced. After a long
struggle they received a farm, called Lareystryd, near Lichtenburg in the North West Province from the
Department of Rural Development and Land Reform where they are currently still farming.
Thamsanqa Sampie Booizene
Thamsanqa Sampie Booizene was born on a farm near Ottosdal in the North West Province where his father
was a farm worker. He never attended school as, in those days, it was expected of the young men to herd the
sheep and to assist wherever necessary in the keeping of the flock.
He started his farming business in 1969. While working, he saved up to plough a small piece of land, then
bought a few goats, a few cows and eventually a tractor. Thereafter he rented some communal land and
as his business grew steadily over the years, he has managed to buy three more farms.
He is one of the elders at the Zion Christian Church and a pillar of the community. He is well-known
by his fellow commercial producers. If they need something from him, he is always willing to help
and they return the favour when Thamsanqa requires something.
Members’ milieu