MANY pursue vegetable gardening to simply enjoy organically-grown foods and save money, but for Sandile Mathenjwa his passion for agriculture places great value in strengthening family bonds and the well-being of his community.
Employed as a trainer at Wildlands, an environmental conservation NPO in Pietermaritzburg, Sandile hails from the remote Mathenjwa community of Ingwavuma in northern KwaZulu-Natal.
As a young boy it was a chore for him and his siblings to work in the family vegetable garden, but little did he know this would later turn into his lifelong passion.
‘This has made me appreciate my family more because we enjoy quality time working together in a vegetable garden,’ says Sandile.
It was inevitable that he would study agriculture, specialising in plant production, which would enable him to reinforce his practical knowledge with theory.
It was here that he developed a love for agro-ecological farming and particularly the cultivation of vegetables.
‘In my line of work, I have taught rural community members to develop their own vegetable gardens, make compost and secure their basic food supplies.
‘What I love about agro-ecological farming is that it is both sustainable and environmentally friendly,’ he says.
Recognition for great work
Sandile’s team was recently acknowledged by iLembe District Development, Tourism and Economic Development, for instilling a culture of conserving the environment and creating awareness around food security in communities.
‘Encouraging community members to plant trees and get involved in recycling activities far supersedes the monetary benefits, as it ensures that the environment in which we live is clean and continues to thrive,’ he says.
Mentor and Wildlands Manager Dave Moldenhauer describes him as a confident and self-motivated person who has community development at heart.
‘Sandile has the ability to avoid politics whilst focusing on the ability of individuals to take ownership of the opportunities before them,’ said Moldenhauer.
The Mathenjwa area from which Sandile comes is gripped by drought, but through his relentless efforts it is set to receive 50 water purifiers from Wishing Well International Foundation SA.
Sandile has appealed to the NGO to address the plight of community which will see more than 500 households have access to clean and safe water for the first time.
With boreholes and water pumps not functional and some wells and rivers going dry, receiving water purifiers will be a great intervention.
‘This will greatly improve the quality of life of community members who have to travel long distances to get water that was muddy at times,’ he says.
