Like many kids from disadvantaged backgrounds, Sihle Mntunje knows firsthand what poverty feels like. However, he did not let it define him. Mntunje turned to his books, working hard to create a different future, and today he is a veterinary technician in the Eastern Cape.
Coming from Elujecweni location, kuTsolo, he understands the struggle of going to bed hungry. Those experiences are now part of his past, and he promised himself that his own family would never face the same hardships.
Growing up with four siblings, Mntunje says the journey was never easy. His mother, Novathile, worked as a housekeeper in the surrounding areas and often had to move with her children to stay close to work.
Learning from caring for livestock
In 2003, they settled in Lotana village, in Qumbu. It was there that Mntunje found space to grow, and where his connection to livestock first took root.
“As a boy, I spent most of my time around animals, learning how to care for cattle, goats, and sheep,” he says.
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Lotana village became his classroom. The Jara family, for whom his mother worked, raised livestock, and he spent much of his time helping to care for their animals. In those everyday moments, he learned responsibility, patience, and respect.
“Watching livestock grow and remain healthy made me realise how important animals are to families and communities,” he says.
“That is when I became interested not only in caring for them, but also in understanding their health and diseases.”
When he began to doubt himself, Nokwakha Jara supported his decision to pursue animal health and later assisted him financially so he could continue his studies.
“She supported me financially, which allowed me to continue my education,” he says. “Her encouragement kept me going during difficult times.”
Her husband, Mandla, often returned home carrying animal medicines and veterinary tools.
“Watching him treat sick animals always caught my attention,” he tells Food For Mzansi. “Seeing him in action shaped my dream of becoming an animal health technician.”
In 2014, Mntunje matriculated and was awarded the overall best achiever across all subjects. He was also recognised by the department of education as the only learner in his cluster to pass pure mathematics during the June examinations.
He later enrolled at Tsolo Agriculture and Rural Development Institute, where he completed a diploma in animal health, with additional training in meat inspection and artificial insemination.
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Hands-on learning hones his skills
Mntunje graduated in 2020 as a veterinary technician and currently works mainly as a field-based practitioner, with occasional office duties.
His career began even before graduation, when he worked as a farm manager at Qhamani Nande, a role that later led him to East London, where he took up another farm management position at Melody Farm.
“I started working before I graduated because I had tractor servicing skills and practical knowledge of livestock,” he says.
In 2021, he was selected for the department of agriculture’s entrepreneurship programme as an intern. A year later, he secured a permanent position as a veterinary technician, overseeing farms within and beyond the Buffalo City Municipality in the Eastern Cape.
“Most companies employ based on skills and attitude,” he says. “Skills are something you can learn, but attitude comes from within. With the right attitude, you stand a better chance of succeeding.”
His responsibilities include animal disease identification and control, parasite management through dipping and deworming, treatment of sick animals, animal identification, and disease surveillance through field sampling sent to veterinary laboratories for diagnosis.
The critical role of animal health
Mntunje explains that veterinary technicians play a critical role in eradicating animal diseases, supporting farmers to improve productivity, and strengthening food security, particularly in rural areas. Their work also contributes directly to the national economy and public health.
“We also play a big role in controlling zoonotic diseases, which are diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans,” he says, mentioning rabies, anthrax, and tuberculosis among the most common examples.
He further explains that in abattoirs, veterinary public health officials and meat inspectors ensure that meat sold for human consumption is safe and disease-free.
“They are placed there specifically to make sure meat is free from hazardous substances and diseases, from slaughter to dispatch.”
Mntunje encourages young people interested in the field to fully commit to learning.
“Give your all when you can,” he says. “Learning helps you grow and find solutions.”
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