• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • News
  • Lifestyle
In the first episode of "Vir die liefde van die land", hosts Ivor Price and Piet Potgieter introduces viewers to Samson Mahlaba, a farmer who worked as a labourer for 50 years. Photo: Supplied.

It took him 50 years to grow from labourer to farmer

7th October 2020
Podcast: Understanding the tomato leaf miner moth

Podcast: Understanding the tomato leaf miner moth

29th November 2023
Agrico and Nedbank team up to offer farmers nifty financing plans

Agrico and Nedbank team up to offer farmers nifty financing plans

29th November 2023

Food For Mzansi’s flagship events propel farmers to new heights

29th November 2023
Super Zuma, the MEC for agriculture and land reform in KwaZulu-Natal, celebrates the ground-breaking partnership with Karan Beef, poised to reshape farming opportunities in uMkhanyakude and beyond. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

Game-changer for farmers: KZN govt. and Karan Beef join forces

29th November 2023
Dimpo Xaba, Devroll Legodi, Mpho Sekgala, Lufuno Netshikhudini, and Professor Xiaoshun Quin attended the sixth annual Afasa Young Farmers Summit. Photo: Duncan Masiwa/Food For Mzansi

Afasa youth summit spotlights crucial role of collaboration

29th November 2023
ICYMI: Sparks fly during Tobacco Control Bill hearings

ICYMI: Sparks fly during tobacco bill hearings across SA

29th November 2023
Vacancy: Marketing assistant at Food For Mzansi Group

Vacancy: Junior journalist at Food For Mzansi Group

28th November 2023
Sorghum remains a great choice amid climate challenge

Sorghum remains a great choice amid climate challenge

28th November 2023
10 out 10 farms celebrate birthday

How Food For Mzansi put the country’s farmers on the map

28th November 2023
Husband-and-wife-owned enterprise, Jacobs Jam, was one of three small businesses honoured alongside a host of other exceptional suppliers at the Shoprite Group’s annual Supplier of the Year Awards. Nigel and Christynn Jacobs accept their coveted SMME of the Year Award from the Shoprite Group’s Chief Executive Officer, Pieter Engelbrecht (middle). Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

Jacobs Jam triumphs: SMME winner at Shoprite Awards

28th November 2023
Kulathi Primary Co-op drives change in rural EC

Kulathi Primary Co-op drives change in rural EC

28th November 2023
2023: A gruelling year that pushed many farmers over the edge

2023: A gruelling year that pushed many farmers over the edge

28th November 2023
Wednesday, November 29, 2023
15 GLOBAL MEDIA AWARDS
Login
Food For Mzansi
  • News
  • Changemakers
  • Lifestyle
  • Farmer’s Inside Track
  • Food for Thought
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Changemakers
  • Lifestyle
  • Farmer’s Inside Track
  • Food for Thought
Food For Mzansi
Home News

It took him 50 years to grow from labourer to farmer

by Duncan Masiwa
7th October 2020
in News
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A
In the first episode of "Vir die liefde van die land", hosts Ivor Price and Piet Potgieter introduces viewers to Samson Mahlaba, a farmer who worked as a labourer for 50 years. Photo: Supplied.

In the first episode of "Vir die liefde van die land", hosts Ivor Price and Piet Potgieter introduces viewers to Samson Mahlaba, a farmer who worked as a labourer for 50 years. Photo: Supplied.

The wait for Mzansi’s much-anticipated, brand-new agricultural TV show is almost over and viewers are in for a treat. That’s right, only a few hours remain on the countdown-clock before the first episode of Vir die liefde van die land (“For the love of the land”) starts on Thursday at 18:00.

Viewers can look forward to sinking their teeth into the DStv show which sees award-winning TV host Ivor Price and Piet Potgieter, manager: developing agriculture at VKB, introduce the nation to agriculture’s unsung heroes.

In the first episode they cast anchor in the small maize, wheat and cattle farming town of Reitz in the Free State where they meet the 73-year-old Samson Mahlaba. The passionate livestock and crop farmer went from labourer to farm owner – a dream, he shares with viewers, that took more than 50 years to materialise.

Snippets from a decades-long farming journey

Mahlaba has wanted to farm since before the dawn of democracy. For five decades, though, he first toiled with heart as an agricultural worker for Fick en Seuns Boerdery in Reitz. Only five years ago, after he retired, his dream of farming independently came true.

Piet Potgieter, VKB’s manager: developing agriculture, co-hosts “Vir die liefde van die land” with award-winning television presenter Ivor Price.

The ten-episode Vir die liefde van die land series is proudly presented by Food For Mzansi in collaboration with the VKB Group and WYRD Films.

It will be broadcast at Thursday at 18:00 on VIA, DStv channel 147, with further repeats on Saturdays at 10:30, Sundays at 20:00 and Mondays at 08:00. 

“I always dreamed of becoming a farmer because I loved the farm,” Mahlaba says in tonight’s moving episode. “Farming to me is like a disease that I was infected with. It’s a disease that I do not know where it came from.”

We also meet Mahlaba’s farming mentor…

Coenraad Fick, a Free State farmer and mentor to Samson Mahlaba. Image: WYRD Films

Also in the show, Mahlaba introduces viewers to his mentor farmer, Coenraad Fick, who shares more about their decade-long journey. The two first met in 1966 when Mahlaba started working on Fick’s father’s farm. At the time, Fick was just nine years old and Mahlaba is 11 years his senior.

According to Fick, who is also a farmer who serves on the VKB board of directors, he always knew that Mahlaba would succeed in farming. Fick says, “He knows livestock farming and loves it very much. My dad always said that Samson knew well in advance that the cattle were going to be sick for about three days.”

…and VKB talks about investing in new era farmers

Koos van Rensburg, VKB’s managing director.
Koos van Rensburg, VKB’s managing director. Photo: Supplied

Also featured in this episode is the managing director of the VKB Group, Koos Janse Van Rensburg, who explains why the VKB group chooses to invest in the future of agriculture.

He also talks about the complexities of farming, and why it is imperative for commercial farmers to partner with new era farmers. “A new farmer starts with off with an uphill battle if he does not have all the facets under control, so then someone has to help him.”

To assist new era farmers, VKB has a dedicated agricultural development department which is managed by Potgieter, the co-host of the television show. Their focus is on helping farmers with skills development, access to new information and technology and developing them into commercial farmers.

  • Catch episode 1 of Vir die liefde van die land on Thursday, 8 October 2020 at 18:00 on VIA, DStv channel 147. Further repeats are on Saturdays at 10:30, Sundays at 20:00 and Mondays at 08:00.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • WhatsApp
  • Email
Tags: Coenraad FickIvor PriceKoos Janse van RensburgPiet PotgieterSamson MahlabaVIAVir die liefde van die landVKBWYRD Films
Previous Post

Northern Cape farmers to benefit from drought-relief fund

Next Post

‘Government, keep your hands off farming,’ pleads Agri SA boss

Duncan Masiwa

Duncan Masiwa

DUNCAN MASIWA is the assistant editor at Food For Mzansi, South Africa’s leading digital agriculture news publication. He cut his teeth in community newspapers, writing columns for Helderberg Gazette, a Media24 publication. Today, he leads a team of journalists who strive to set the agricultural news agenda. Besides being a journalist, he is also a television presenter, podcaster and performance poet who has shared stages with leading gospel artists.

Related Posts

VKB and GWK merger given the final go-ahead

VKB and GWK merger given the final go-ahead

by Staff Reporter
1st June 2023
0

Agricultural giants VKB and GWK received final approval for their merger, creating a sustainable and diversified producer-owned group in South...

“Die Kragspan" was formed through an alliance between InteliGro and VKB and came out of a need for sustainability in the commercial farming sector. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

‘Die Kragspan’ is saving growers millions

by Nicole Ludolph
29th August 2022
0

0% surcharges, carefully considered discounts on inputs, and interest-free periods are amongst the commercial solutions that have saved farmers nearly...

Reggie Kambule from Villiers in the Free State runs a 185 hectare farm where he breeds livestock and cultivates maize. Photo:Supplied/Food For Mzansi

Engineer-turned farmer takes pride in good results

by Tiisetso Manoko
28th June 2022
0

INSPIRATION: Former chemical engineer, Reggie Kambule, had big boots to fill when he took over from his father to co-run...

Well-known magician and mentalist Brendon Peel has partnered with VKB for a new campaign showcasing the many wonders of the leading agricultural enterprise. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

VKB announces exciting new campaign with magician

by Staff Reporter
17th February 2022
0

The magic of VKB never ceases to amaze. The leading agricultural enterprise has announced a campaign in which well-known magician...

Next Post

‘Government, keep your hands off farming,’ pleads Agri SA boss

Super Zuma, the MEC for agriculture and land reform in KwaZulu-Natal, celebrates the ground-breaking partnership with Karan Beef, poised to reshape farming opportunities in uMkhanyakude and beyond. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi
News

Game-changer for farmers: KZN govt. and Karan Beef join forces

by Staff Reporter
29th November 2023
0

An exciting collaboration between the KwaZulu-Natal government and Karan Beef promises a significant boost to farming. This initiative, launching in...

Read more
Dimpo Xaba, Devroll Legodi, Mpho Sekgala, Lufuno Netshikhudini, and Professor Xiaoshun Quin attended the sixth annual Afasa Young Farmers Summit. Photo: Duncan Masiwa/Food For Mzansi

Afasa youth summit spotlights crucial role of collaboration

29th November 2023
ICYMI: Sparks fly during Tobacco Control Bill hearings

ICYMI: Sparks fly during tobacco bill hearings across SA

29th November 2023
Vacancy: Marketing assistant at Food For Mzansi Group

Vacancy: Junior journalist at Food For Mzansi Group

28th November 2023
Sorghum remains a great choice amid climate challenge

Sorghum remains a great choice amid climate challenge

28th November 2023

ICYMI: KZN agri dept goes big with livestock programme

Mzansi uncorks month-long wine heritage bash

Sorghum remains a great choice amid climate challenge

Jacobs Jam triumphs: SMME winner at Shoprite Awards

This week’s agri events: 27 November-01 December

10 out of 10: Farmers share what Food For Mzansi means to them

RSS From FoodForAfrika.com

  • $2 Million investment in fertiliser financing for Kenyan smallholders
  • AfDB empowers Tanzanian horticulture with $2.5m boost
  • Malagasy scientist wins $150k grant

THE NEW FACE OF SOUTH AFRICAN AGRICULTURE

With 15 global awards in the first four years of its existence, Food For Mzansi is much more than an agriculture publication. It is a movement, unashamedly saluting the unsung heroes of South African agriculture. We believe in the power of agriculture to promote nation building and social cohesion by telling stories that are often overlooked by broader society.

Podcast: Understanding the tomato leaf miner moth

Agrico and Nedbank team up to offer farmers nifty financing plans

Food For Mzansi’s flagship events propel farmers to new heights

Game-changer for farmers: KZN govt. and Karan Beef join forces

Afasa youth summit spotlights crucial role of collaboration

ICYMI: Sparks fly during tobacco bill hearings across SA

  • Our Story
  • Contact Us
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright

Contact us
Office: +27 21 879 1824
News: info@foodformzansi.co.za
Advertising: sales@foodformzansi.co.za

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Changemakers
  • Lifestyle
  • Farmer’s Inside Track
  • Food for Thought
Login

Copyright © 2021 Food for Mzansi

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.