Local teacher turned farmer trains and employs
Sinky Mabitsela (58) is in the process of training unemployed men and women on his farm in order for them to know the basics of farming and hopefully have their own farms one day.
POLOKWANE – Local farmer, Sinky Mabitsela (58) fell in love with farming because he saw an opportunity to grow financially as well as train and create jobs for those who struggle to be employed.
Sinky believes Limpopo is agriculturally rich and he is an enthusiastic and energetic farmer who produces vegetables and breeds animals.
With butternut, spinach, corn, sweet potatoes and watermelon among the produce he produces, he also breeds goats and sheep and has chickens and geese on his farm. “I supply supermarkets in Limpopo as well as small businesses with my produce and I must say, it is doing very well,” he said.
Before farming full-time, Sinky was a teacher in Ga-Matlala and then moved to the corporate world for 10 years, before going back to teaching. His position at Harry Oppenheimer Agricultural High School in Limburg, outside Mokopane, was the push he needed to pursue his passion.
“I was farming in my spare time and fell more and more in love with it. I decided to resign in 2019 to focus on farming full-time,” he told BONUS.
He started Tau Sejela Business Enterprise and explained that the name derives from the animal which represents his family and culture, which are lions.
“Lions are strong and that is what we stand for. We are a strong family who tackles any obstacle which comes our way,” he added.
Sinky said that many farmers truly and deeply care for animals and that he is one of them.
“This is the reason why I chose farming as a career, from a sustainability perspective, animal welfare is often emphasised as being a social responsibility for farmers. The main challenge with this is that people have different perceptions of what this actually means. My experience and belief is that I care for my animals and plants and do my utmost to ensure that they are cared for and kept healthy, so that I give my clients fresh and healthy produce,” he added.
Sinky is in the process of training unemployed men and women on his farm in order for them to know the basics of farming and hopefully have their own farms one day.
“I would also like to thank Polokwane Tractors for always being there for me when I need my tractor to be serviced, or when I need a new one,” he said.
