BUILDING SOLIDARITY THROUGH FOOD
The success of Sweetwaters resident Thobelane Radebe’s small-scale, sustainable vegetable garden is testament to what can happen when communities unite.
Thanks to the SweetHill Organics initiative, a project birthed from a desire to strengthen ties between the communities of Sweetwaters and Hilton after the July unrest, Radebe and over 25 other farmers are able to grow their markets, while filling the gap in Hilton residents’ desire for sustainable, nutritious, locally-grown organic fresh produce.
Radebe (26) learned how to garden by spending time with his grandmother when he was growing up.
While in primary school, he spent some of his holidays working in Hilton residents’ gardens as a part-time job.
After matriculating from Siyanda High School, Radebe started studying human resources at DUT, but could not continue for the second semester due to lack of funds. He returned home and got a job as a taxi conductor to support his family.
Later he got his licence and moved to the driver’s seat.
All this changed when the Covid-19 pandemic hit. Radebe lost his income as a taxi driver and didn’t know how he was going to support his family.
With only his two hands and the knowledge instilled in him by his beloved granny, he started breathing life back into his overgrown and weed-ridden garden.
In 2020, Radebe heard about the Umzansi Youth in Business (UYB) youth centre, through which he was introduced to the Association for Rural Advancement (Afra).
There he met Hilton resident Donna Hornby who worked for Afra on a project funded by Green Trust that provided funding for local farmers in Sweetwaters, with an emphasis on organically grown produce that is grown to cater for a local market.
The funding he received from Afra gave him the kickstart he needed. “I was able to plant all my crops and put netting over so my neighbour’s chickens wouldn’t eat it,” Radebe said.
When Hilton resident, Lucky Mbanjwa, formed the SweetHill Leadership Forum, to strengthen the ties between Hilton and Sweetwaters, Hornby was struck by the relevance it had to her work and the young farmers she worked with. “Lucky was saying the only way to build safe, sustainable relationships is through addressing livelihoods in Sweetwaters.
“As I listened to Lucky talking, two things stood out for me: the one was the word SweetHill, and the second was the need for livelihoods in the area where I was already working.
“I suddenly thought, SweetHill Organics captured what we were trying to do. It captured the idea of Hilton and Sweetwaters trying to work together around a food system in which young people in Sweetwaters would supply both their own community in Sweetwaters, and Hilton with good quality food that is organically grown with no pesticides, and humanely raised animals,” Hornby said.
She put a message out on the Hilton Chat Facebook group to gauge interest and was overwhelmed with the response.
Hornby created a WhatsApp group where farmers can post what they have available each week and people can order quantities and collect their orders on Thursdays from the Zaza Gallery in Hilton.
Radebe said that since the launch of SweetHill Organics in November last year he has been getting a huge amount of support from Hilton residents.
“The Hilton community, through SweetHill Organics, is helping me to grow my business.
“I’m now getting an income from my garden, and it’s been doing great things for my family,” he added.
“Now, there’s no stress over what we are going to eat tonight.
“I know I can provide for my family. I have even been able to put my son in a better school.”
His garden and business, Indalo Agri Farming, is named after his son, Indalo, who also helps him. Radebe feels he benefited from the pandemic, as it forced him to return to and pursue his passion for gardening.
He hopes to one day build his grandmother a house to thank her for nurturing his love for gardening. Hornby said: “Hilton’s support has shown that our community will go out of their way to support local and eat organic, and both communities meet halfway.”
To join the SweetHill Organics market, WhatsApp Radebe: 072 731 9263. You can also follow Indalo Agri Farming on Facebook: @Indalo_Agri-Farming