24 / 124
MEMBERS’ MILIEU
2017 Potential Commercial Farmer of the Year
Ruben Mothlabane
Tshediso Daniel Maqala
Paul Mvelekweni Malindi
Ruben Mothlabane worked on his uncle’s farm after he successfully
completed Grade 12 and obtained a diploma in Business Manage-
ment. He eagerly learnt everything his uncle could teach him and
worked for a couple of years, whilst looking out for a farm of his own.
In 2011, through PLAS, he applied for the farm Kalkpan in the Bult-
fontein district. A lack of production capital, support and equipment
forced Ruben to go into partnership with a local farmer and lease out
his lands for a predetermined share of the crops.
As he grows in confidence and knowledge, his plan is to take back
more and more of his land to cultivate on his own. In the not so dis-
tant future, Ruben aims to plant his own crops and make the farm a
sustainable, financially viable and profitable commercial entity.
Ruben has been a member of Grain SA
since 2012 and diligently attends the
monthly study group meetings of the
Bultfontein Study Group. He has com-
pleted numerous training courses and
will definitely, sooner rather than later,
develop into a fully fletched commer-
cial farmer to reckon with.
Developing co-ordinator, Johan Kriel
elaborates: ‘Ruben has developed into
a farmer with tremendous potential. He
harvested close to 1 000 tons of grain
this year.’
Over the past three years 55-year-old Tshediso Maqala has devel-
oped from being a farmer who barely subsisted on 615 ha, to produc-
ing an excess of 500 tons of grain this year.
He was born and raised on a farm and became a farmworker on the
same farm after his dad passed away when he was only 15 years
old. For Tshediso farming was associated with hardship and that is
why he ended up trying to earn a better living by getting his driver’s
license and working as a driver.
He always dreamt of owning his own land and in 2005 this became a
reality for him when he bought the 197 ha farm Kosmos, in the Ficks-
burg district. He also obtained the 326 ha Die Hoop farm through
the PLAS programme and now has access to over 200 ha of arable
land. Farming did not come easy for Tshediso. He struggled for years
until he joined Grain SA in 2014. He
attended study groups and farmers
days and his newly found knowledge
helped him to yield 168 tons of wheat
in 2017. Tshediso has the potential to
qualify for a 250 Ton Club or even a
500 Ton Club certificate this year.
‘Even though Tshediso is relatively
new to the programme, this farmer
has the potential to manage a big com-
mercial farm. He farms in a difficult
agricultural area but has managed it
magnificently,’ elucidates developing
co-ordinator, Johan Kriel.
Agriculture was always in the blood of 48-year-old Paul Malindi. He
grew up on a farm where both his parents worked as farm labourers
and in 2012 Paul had the opportunity to return to the land. He ob-
tained the 441 ha farm Dankbaar, close to Edenville, through PLAS.
In the same year, Paul joined Grain SA’s Farmer Development Pro-
gramme and was one of the founding members of the Edenville
Study Group. It took Paul a couple of years to realise that there are
no short cuts in agriculture and things need to be done correctly or
not at all.
He now leases land to graze his cattle on and planted 140 ha of sun-
flower and 180 ha of maize this season. His active involvement in the
study group and attendance of farmers days has had a huge influ-
ence on him. Paul now uses the knowl-
edge he obtained and is proud of being
a successful farmer.
Paul’s first priority is to take care of his
family and workers. He believes in his
own capabilities and the future of the
South African agricultural sector.
Johan Kriel, developing co-ordinator
remarks: ‘Paul has an unquenchable
thirst for knowledge. This year he did
everything right – he even drove the
tractor all by himself.’
Ruben Mothlabane
Paul Malindi
Tshediso Daniel Maqala
September 2017
22