Farmers benefit from small business course
THREE farmers will be among the first 26 small businesspeople from the North Eastern Cape to graduate from a small business academy development programme sponsored by the Joe Gqabi Economic Development Agency and run by Stellenbosch University’s business school.
The group – from Sterkspruit, Lady Grey and Maclear respectively – will be awarded their certificates tomorrow at a ceremony in Aliwal North.
The programme, offered in the province for the first time this year, was designed to give previously disadvantaged small business owners the knowledge to strengthen and grow their businesses, spokeswoman Linda Christensen said.
They studied finance, business plan development, marketing, computer programmes and management.
Christensen said applicants faced a stringent testing phase, consisting of aptitude tests and interviews.
Twenty-six business owners were then placed on a nine-month course consisting of one-week blocks of lectures in Aliwal North as well as oneon-one mentorship by Stellenbosch MBA graduates.
Retired school principal Wilfred Makaphela, who farms Bonsmara cattle in Sterkspruit, called the programme an “eye-opener in terms of how to manage my business”.
He plans to start mentoring other farmers soon.
Tamsanqa Mkumantela, who farms on two hectares rented from the Elundini Municipality, said the course would assist him greatly to realise his dream of expanding his piggery into the largest in the Maclear district.
He sells pigs to restaurants, butcheries, street vendors and households.
Lawrence Maduna, who farms Bonsmaras and merino sheep in Lady Grey, said his farm employed seven people full-time and 10 part-time. “I am very excited about the ceremony,” he said.