Peter Setou is passionate about the partnership between rural community and private sector

When Peter Setou is not in the boardroom dressed in a suit and working on the next project to empower a community, he is dressed in khaki, boots and a hat, working on his farm in the North West.

For more than a decade, Setou has been at the helm of the Vumelana Advisory Fund, a nonprofit organisation working with land reform beneficiaries and facilitating partnerships between communities and investors.

Setou grew up in Maretlwane, a tiny village in the North West, one of six siblings.

“While there was poverty and lack of access to services such as water and electricity, the community had strong values which ensured that no-one went to bed hungry,” he said.

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Both Setou’s parents were teachers.

“Our parents emphasised the need for education and dropping out of school was not an option,” he said.

“Despite growing up in this poor but humble environment, five of us are university graduates and our only sister published a Setswana poetry book at the age of 21 – which was prescribed several times for high school pupils,” he boasted.

He said their parents pushed them to excel at whatever they were doing. They were strict and expected the children to be home before sunset.

“Unlike other kids, we were barred from going to gigs and late-night parties. We used to envy other kids who would regularly and freely attend these gigs and parties.

“We would wait for our parents to fall asleep and then sneak out to have some fun,” he said.

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Setou admits there were a few instances when his parents caught them red-handed.

“We were really chastised. We couldn’t understand why we got this treatment but with a bit of hindsight, we remain grateful for having strict parents who only wanted the best for us.”

Setou is passionate about the partnership between the rural community and the private sector because of his upbringing.

“Besides that, land reform is a constitutional right. We come from a painful history as a nation. You cannot look at it as just a human right but also how reforming land can benefit the community in a meaningful way.

“That’s very close to me because I come from such a development,” he said.

Setou said he has always had a heart for his community and has participated in resolving community issues.

Setou said he is resilient because he grew up in a community where people tried to do things for themselves, even if they were poor. The father of four said when he is not busy growing the community, he is farming cattle.

“I love to spend time with my children and I love farming. I grew up seeing my father having cattle, so I have a first love for farming,” he said.

A typical day on the farm starts as early as 6am, patrolling the farm and checking the fences and cattle.

“I love the farm because you are far from pollution and noise. You get peace of mind and time to reflect on many things,” he said.

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Setou said he would love to inspire the younger generations to fall in love with farming. Another one of his big loves is a good braai.

“I love to braai different meats. A braai is not completewithout a good pot of pap,” he said.

Setou said he became more health conscious after suffering a severe Covid infection. He started by adding salads to the braai and taking daily walks.

“I was hospitalised for three weeks and was placed on oxygen machines for another two weeks,” he said.

Setou said he has since been very consistent with his health but admits if there is something he cannot resist, it is a magwenya, or vetkoek, his daughter made. Setou said his dream is to help improve the lives of others.

“We need to make sure leadership in those communities starts doing things differently. They need to ensure that the land is utilised properly,” he said.

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Setou said it is naive to expect a community to prosper in an area with the wrong infrastructure.

“I see deep poverty in rural areas like where I come from. I see people who are eager to improve their lives but are not in an enabling environment,” he said.

Setou said he is working to contribute towards improving the lives of our people in a small way.

– marizkac@citizen.co.za