AgriSETA Learner Connect: Meet a welder

Lengau Mothiane (35) is a welder and director of Horizon Southern Group. He worked himself up from a herd boy in the fields near Heilbron in the Free State to a successful entrepreneur focusing on farm infrastructure maintenance.

Horizon Southern Group employs 20 people from the local community where he grew up. They provide agricultural services such as fencing, windmill repairs and installation and it is a 24 hour job. His company also builds cattle holding facilities and installs solar systems as well as doing animal branding and dehorning.

He jokes about not having any leasure time and advises young learners to start somewhere. “I was also part of the AgriSETA programme where we completed more that ten courses offered by the Sernick Group. I was inspired by the courses offered and it gave birth to the Horizon Southern Group,” he says.

One of his proudest career moments is when his family was granted land to start farming. Another highlight was travelling to various African countrues as a United Nations beneficiary under the Switch African Green programme.

This is another exciting career being featured on our AgriSETA Learner Connect campaign. Presented in partnership with Food For Mzansi and 19 different radio stations we’re exploring the diverse career options in the agricultural sector every single day.

Okay, now it’s over to Lengau Mothiane, welder and director of Horizon Southern Group.

1Could you sum up your job for us? As Horizon Southern Group we’re a service provider company in the agricultural sector. We are currently doing jobs like fencing, windmill repairs and installation. Other activities include the building of cattle holding facilities and the installation of farm water supply from houses to the fields. We also intall farm solar water solutions and off the grid energy supplies. The animal caring services include branding and dehorning as well as the vaccination of large and small livestock and consultations on all farming activities.

2So, what does the day-to-day of your job entail? I mostly meet up with the programme management to discuss the way forward for the day and go onsite to ensure that everything is going well, working off the daily duty schedule. I deliver working materials and monitor employee misconduct.  I’m also providing servces to the Sernick Group.

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What qualification do you need for this career? For this career one needs general sciences and mathematics.

4What are the character traits you need to be great at your job? It is most important to have a positive attitude towards life. What this means is to be humble, respectful, willing to learn and add value to what you do daily. You also need good communications skills and be willing to work beyond normal working hours and you must be patient.

5What subjects do I need to become a welder? The subjects to consider at academic level are mathematics and sciences.

6What do you love about agriculture as a space to work in? I believe the agricultural sector is the mother of all traits and qualifications.

7Don’t be modest, tell us about your proudest career moments? The proudest moments of my career is when my family was granted land to start farming. Another highlight was travelling to various African countrues as a  United Nations beneficiary under the Switch African Green programme that focuses on energy consumption and production in agriculture.

8What do you do when you’re not at work? Hahaha, how I wish for that time to come. I’m always trying to make ends meet either at my workplace or at the farm. #foreverworking

9Any advice for young people who are inspired by your career story here on AgriSETA Learner Connect? We all start somewhere as I was also part of the AgriSETA programme where we completed more that ten courses offered by the Sernick Group. I was inspired by the courses offered which gave birth to the Horizon Southern Group. It means we can all be what we aim to be one day. #Don’tGiveUp

10Where can I study to become a welder? There are lots of institutions that offer qualification to become a welder. You can also learn by working or voltunteering for a welder.

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