Soil is the source of life

Rejoice Shozi, small-scale timber grower and local leader, explains how forestry is providing livelihoods in rural KwaZulu-Natal…

Rejoice Shozi’s mother grew vegetables and trees and her father grew sugar cane on the small family plot in Empembeni, 30km south of Richards Bay.

When her father died in 2015, Shozi inherited three hectares of land and revived and expanded her mother’s small Eucalyptus plot. She soon saw timber’s benefits and began asking to use neighbours’ unused land. She thus established three more hectares of Eucalyptus, which she plants, maintains and harvests while paying the landowners a fee.

“From a young age, I learned that soil is a source of life,” said Shozi, who is a guiding force for small growers in the area where she is the chairperson of the Growers Committee. She assists local growers with coordinating transport, harvesting and general forestry advice.

Shozi employs six people when she is planting or harvesting timber and she has bought her own chainsaw, offering harvesting services to other growers in the area. She receives free seedlings from Mondi Zimele via Khulanathi.

‘Ma Shozi’ harvests her timber on a six-year rotation and delivers it to the Khulanathi depot at Esikhawini. Khulanathi coordinates transport for the long haul to the Mondi Mill in Richards Bay. “We use local labour and transport contractors,” said Shozi. “Transport is my biggest challenge because it is my biggest cost,” she said. “I hope to one day own my own truck.”

“Shozi makes it easier for us to work with the small growers here,” said Thokozani Mfekayi, Khulanathi Forestry Operations Manager. “She assists us to communicate with growers for meetings and field days.”

“Once we have harvested, Shozi will replant to full stocking. We give her advice on how best to establish, maintain and harvest her woodlot. We also assist in negotiation for rates with transport contractors. When she is ready to replant, we will deliver high-quality Eucalyptus seedlings to her. We distribute Mondi Zimele seedlings to all our small growers.”

Sizwe Mtengu of Mondi Zimele pointed out that many people in rural KZN have access to land but lack the resources and skills to utilise it profitably. This is where Mondi Zimele is filling the gap.

Shozi recently attended a harvesting training field day arranged by Mondi Zimele, through Khulanathi as part of their initiative to certify small growers.

The certification programme assists small growers in the area toward getting FSC certified, through CMO and the guidance of Michal Brink. Three growers have already been certified.

This will give the small growers a better rate for their timber, along with the stamp of approval for the sustainability of their operations.

– Rejoice Shozi “There are many women being empowered. Forestry has helped me raise four children and grown my self-confidence. We must teach our children how ” to grow trees and understand the value of the land.