How NEF loans work
NEF national social media officer Simphiwe Kanityi explained that operating under the department of trade, industry and competition (DTIC), the NEF provides business loans ranging from R250 000 up to R75 million.
Kanityi noted that unlike commercial banks, the NEF accepts applications year-round without strict deadlines, though the thorough assessment process typically takes between two and six weeks once all documents are submitted.
“Our funding as NEF is through loans. We don’t have money, so it can’t be a grant. It’s business loans that must be paid back. It’s important that you pay back the money so that we are able to fund your neighbour.”
Simphiwe Kanityi
He further explained that if an entrepreneur like Mashigo applies for R10 million, the NEF can partner with the department to split the cost, providing R5 million as a low-interest loan and the remaining R5 million as a government grant.
This model, he said, significantly reduces the financial burden on emerging producers, allowing them to only pay back a fraction of the total funding at interest rates lower than any commercial bank.
Meanwhile, Dumisani Mahlangu, municipal manager of the Thembisile Hani Local Municipality, announced a major strategic push to transform local agriculture, focusing on expanding community gardens, establishing climate-smart seed banks, and building resilient logistics chains.
Responding directly to the challenges faced by local producers in the surrounding area, Mahlangu committed to immediate service delivery interventions, specifically targeting the upgrade of local access roads to unlock economic value.
He emphasised that true rural development relies heavily on turning local agriculture into a sustainable commercial powerhouse for black farmers.
“We need to connect rural producers to reliable buyers by ensuring that farming remains a profitable and well-for and wealth-generating enterprise.”
Mahlangu added that the municipality remains fully resolved on strengthening food security and promoting resilient agricultural services across the region.
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Farming insights inspire next generation
A recent graduate from the North-West University and aspiring young farmer, Mphatso Sithole, told Food For Mzansi that attending the farmers’ day provided invaluable industry knowledge.
“Attending gave me real insights from different experts, and it confirmed what I already felt: that I’m heading in the right direction.
“As a graduate, I’m not looking for a job. I’m looking to create jobs, contribute to the local economy, and empower the people around me,” Sithole said.
He noted that while his poultry business, Mphatso Poultry (Pty) Ltd, is still in its infancy, he is highly optimistic about its future success through upcoming collaborations with fellow producers.
Sharing the stage was Sizo Tshabalala, founder of Tshabalala Farming in eNkangala, who gave a raw account of the brutal volatility that defines commercial agriculture.
A recent graduate from the North-West University and aspiring young farmer, Mphatso Sithole, told Food For Mzansi that attending the farmers’ day provided invaluable industry knowledge.
“Attending gave me real insights from different experts, and it confirmed what I already felt: that I’m heading in the right direction.
“As a graduate, I’m not looking for a job. I’m looking to create jobs, contribute to the local economy, and empower the people around me,” Sithole said.
He noted that while his poultry business, Mphatso Poultry (Pty) Ltd, is still in its infancy, he is highly optimistic about its future success through upcoming collaborations with fellow producers.
Sharing the stage was Sizo Tshabalala, founder of Tshabalala Farming in eNkangala, who gave a raw account of the brutal volatility that defines commercial agriculture.
He said his journey began in 2014, marked by severe setbacks, including a devastating livestock crisis where 39 pregnant Boer goats miscarried, wiping out 70 expected kids.
Later, a severe festive-season cash-flow crunch nearly crippled his thriving poultry supply contracts with reliable local retail shops.
Despite these trials, Tshabalala’s strict financial discipline paved the way for massive success, culminating in landmark expansion funding from the National Empowerment Fund (NEF). Today, his enterprise successfully manages 15 000 chickens and 350 Bonsmara cattle.
Reflecting on the immense psychological pressure within the agricultural sector, Tshabalala urged young producers to protect their mental health above all else.
“I’ve met so many entrepreneurs who’ve literally killed themselves. What is the point of winning the world if you are going to lose yourself in the process?”
Packed with practical farming hacks and mental health advice, the day proved that Mpumalanga’s agricultural future is in capable hands.
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