A young farmer from Mahikeng in North West, Keaobaka Motsemme, has distanced herself from a fake Twitter profile used to ask people for money to buy tractors and other agricultural equipment in her name.
Motsemme, who started farming two years ago, was distraught after a friend called earlier this month to say that a profile using her name and pictures was being used to ask strangers for money.
Motsemme told Food For Mzansi she could not sleep as she was nervous and scared that someone was out there trying to ruin her hard-earned start-up business.
She says, “I am devastated. I do not have a Twitter account. The person took my pictures on Facebook and created a Twitter account going around asking money from people in my name.
“I am grateful that many people managed to double check with me regarding the money requests, but I am scared that many [others may] have been scammed thinking they are helping me. I have opened a case with the police to investigate.”
Motsemme added that she could not afford the reputational damage as a beginner farmer. She hoped that the police would bring the perpetrator to books. The fake Twitter profile has since been deactivated.
The Mmbatho police confirmed to Food For Mzansi that Motsemme reported the matter on 10 February 2022.
From law to farming
“I really want to make it into this sector. I see how my community, which is mostly rural, struggle to even get a pack of tomatoes. My aim is to produce a number of vegetables and sell it to them,” she said.
After getting a law degree from North-West University, Motsemme decided to farm with her father instead.
“He is my mentor and has been farming for many years, but I want to stand by myself and help my community. I started by spending time on researching agricultural methods, practices and seeds, but [more] importantly I researched what my community needs since we are in the deep rural areas.”
Motsemme believed that misinformation remained one of the biggest challenges facing beginner farmers in Mzansi.
“Finance has also been a challenge of late as I would like to buy tools to properly equip my farm. My dad and I have a wish to build a greenhouse as well. From the little troubles that I went through when I started, I now produce organic vegetables such as cabbage, spinach, beetroot, tomatoes, onions and pumpkin. I see myself as a game-changer in reducing unemployment and empowering our people in our rural village.”
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