At the age of 13, Sibonelo Dlodlo bought his first goat. Inspired by his parents and grandfather, this early passion led him into agribusiness, where he later established Isibonelo So-Mabanga (Pty) Ltd.
The mixed farming operation is based on his farmland in Vaalkop, Ladysmith, along the banks of the Klip River, northwest of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal.
In 2022, Dlodlo was 17 and ready to be a farmer, but he had to wait until he turned 18 to officially register his business. His interest started at home, influenced by his family, especially his grandfather, who had more than 200 cattle.
“I learned cattle vaccination during my primary school days from my grandfather. He would give me tasks over several months and have me keep records,” he recalls.
“My parents also farmed and sold goats, although it wasn’t sustainable.”
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Nurturing a livestock farming dream
Dlodlo was later motivated at school, where teachers encouraged learners to take agriculture seriously as a career.
He remembers his agricultural teacher at Ntandoyesizwe High School, Mondli Dlamini, who constantly motivated learners not to look down on agriculture. Dlamini also organised a visit to Cedara College of Agriculture in Pietermaritzburg, where Dlodlo was exposed to livestock farming.
“At Cedara, we were shown different animals and what daily care looks like,” he says.
“My love for animals grew from there. I could already see myself owning livestock and starting a business that would not only help my community, but the country as well.”
During his matric year in 2023, he became more focused on animal science, learning to identify symptoms in sick animals. “At the time, we had goats at home and a few chickens.”
He began applying what he learned at school to the livestock at home.
Another teacher, Xolani Mbatha, who taught physical science, also supported him, especially in understanding breeding processes. “He guided me step by step on the different career paths within agriculture.”
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Building his herd and branching out
By the time Dlodlo passed matric, the total herd at home had grown to about 140 goats. Of these, 43 were his, built from the single goat he bought at 13 using his pocket money.
“I applied to the University of KwaZulu-Natal for teaching, dentistry, and agricultural management, but none of my applications was successful,” he says.
“I started losing interest, even on school trips. Instead, I would ask my parents to give me that money so I could buy more goats.”
Another teacher from high school, Thandekile Dlodlo, guided him step by step and helped him register his company after he shared his plans to start an agribusiness.
Over the years, his goats multiplied, and he sold some to reinvest in more livestock. He now farms alongside his family’s goats, as well as chickens and cattle, although most of the cattle are not his and he mainly looks after them.
“What is advantageous about goats is that they reproduce twice a year. I have also been fortunate to get twins at times.”
Today, Dlodlo also farms white and yellow maize on his family’s 40-hectare land. The yellow maize is used for chicken feed, while they process white maize into a mealie meal at home.
He says crop farming is still something he is learning, and maize has become a key part of his step-by-step learning journey in agriculture.
Farming with vision
In 2024, Dlodlo joined a livestock community of farmers where they built a supportive network. Within that community, he also learned more about breeding.
He started his own breeding in 2025, working with Nguni goats and Boer goats for meat production.
“But what I noticed is that Boer kids don’t survive as easily as Nguni goats. They are more easily affected by disease,” he says.
He explains that, however, Boer goats produce high-quality meat that is in strong demand. They breed well and can produce kids more than once a year under good conditions.
Dlodlo also notes that Boer goats are generally strong and adaptable to tough farming conditions. “They often give birth to twins, which increases herd growth.”
Going forward, he is looking to expand his breeding and explore what the farming world still has to offer. However, he is clear about one thing: he wants to obtain an agricultural qualification.
He is also focused on building his community and hopes to employ people through Isibonelo So-Mabanga (Pty) Ltd. Ultimately, he envisions not only selling live goats but also establishing his own abattoir in the future.
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