For young farmer Gugu Thwala from Tweefontein, Mpumalanga, agriculture became more than a school subject. After matriculating from an agricultural high school, she spotted an opportunity within her uncle’s established farming operation and began learning from his experience.
With access to her uncle Hendrick Mathibela’s land in Doornkop, Middelburg, Thwala carved out her own space in the family business. Today, she farms three of the 22 hectares and trades under her uncle’s agribusiness, Dubazane Co-operative.
Thwala’s farming journey started with two Large White piglets, which she bought for about R3 000 using money her parents gave her as start-up capital. Over several months, her parents also gave her R1 000 to help with feed costs.
However, keeping the pigs soon became expensive. “The feed was costing me a lot of money, and I didn’t have an alternative for what to feed my pigs with,” she says.
Determined to understand farming beyond her own small operation, Thwala began accompanying her uncle to agricultural workshops and spending time on his farm.
“I started with learning and helping at Dubazane, with my uncle showing me how the farm operates, especially farming management and livestock maintenance.”
The exposure gave her practical experience in farm management and livestock maintenance, while strengthening her interest in agriculture.
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Carving out her own space
By February 2025, she felt ready to establish her own operation within the family’s 22-hectare property.
“I felt ready to start my own business, but I still wanted to learn from my uncle because he has the experience.”
After eventually leaving piggery due to high feed costs, Thwala shifted her focus to poultry, particularly egg sales, and crops such as spinach.
However, expanding her operation remains difficult because of water shortages in the Middelburg area. Although the farm has an irrigation system, it currently has enough capacity to cover only her three hectares in production, leaving much of the remaining land unused.
Water is not the only constraint. Thwala says cash flow is another major challenge, particularly when it comes to buying feed and equipment.
She uses some of her earnings to buy feed in bulk and reduce costs. Weekly sales of eggs and spinach help her cover immediate expenses, while she saves towards bigger purchases and future investment.
Her products currently reach households in her community and a small spaza shop; however, finding reliable buyers has proved challenging. Some weeks, the shop reaches capacity, leaving her with stock that still needs to be sold.
Thwala responds to challenges by building stronger relationships with her existing customers, focusing on timely deliveries, consistent quality and clear communication.
Learning, building and looking ahead
To build her farming knowledge, she also enrolled for formal training.
In 2024, she completed a three-month course in livestock management at Buhle Farmers’ Academy. She then enrolled at GrowthPath College, where she studied crop farming and obtained an accredited certificate in January 2026.
“The college showed me the importance of record-keeping, communication, financial management and routine maintenance.”
The training has helped her understand that farming is not only about cultivating crops or keeping livestock, but also about managing the business.
She says she would like to study agribusiness at university in future, while continuing to gain experience on the farm and deciding which area of agriculture she wants to specialise in.
Thwala is working towards registering her own enterprise, and her goal is to increase her production to supply more local buyers consistently.
Her vision is to enter the formal retail market, but she knows this will require more than simply increasing production. Larger retailers need farmers who can supply consistent volumes every week, while eggs and vegetables must meet requirements in grading and packaging.
Working capital is another consideration. Retailers can take 30 to 60 days to pay, while feed and other production costs have to be covered upfront. Thwala explains that for a young farmer still growing her operation, managing that gap will be critical.
She plans to grow step by step: first secure more reliable bulk buyers, then work towards the necessary certifications and eventually approach retailers with proof that she can supply consistently.
Running different farming activities at the same time has also pushed her to become more organised with her time and finances. She is learning to balance production, sales, farm maintenance and the day-to-day running of the business.
For now, she is focused on growing what she has, strengthening the business and gaining the experience she needs to take the next step.
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