As a kid, Tsholofelo Shabangu, from Hammanskraal in Gauteng often found herself lost in the stories of her father about his childhood. One story, in particular, stayed with her. It was about how her father, Jabulani, as a young boy, planted cabbages in their backyard and sold it to earn money for their family.
“Getting a simple R50 from the sales was a lot for him then and he was able to provide food,” she remembers.
“That man inspires me so much. Listening to his story and how he came about being the man he is today, which includes his farm and business when he had nothing growing up, inspires me to keep going.”
Little did Jabulani know that his green fingers would eventually become the foundation of their family’s business and their main source of income when he acquired a 4.6-hectare farm in 2019. And, she is in line to take over the management of their mini-empire, Shabs and Shabs.
The family farm grows a variety of vegetables, which are sold to local customers, the Tswane Fresh produce market, and the Mamelodi Pick n Pay. They also breed three different types of livestock. These are sold to members of their community.
Diversifying Shabs and Shabs
Initially, Shabs and Shabs focused on the spinach market due to its high demand. However, their diversified farm approach has them breeding cows, goats, and chickens on a small-scale. Their primary focus are chickens and goats, Shabangu remarks.
Of the 4.6 hectares of land they own, only 2.5 hectares are utilised for crop cultivation. Another 1.5 hectares are dedicated to animal grazing, while the remaining portion serves as their homestead.
“This is a family business and when my dad brought the land, the intention was to extend it for his grandchildren as well,” Shabangu explains.
In Hammanskraal, crops are constantly exposed to hot and dry weather conditions, she explains. With climate change exacerbating these conditions, Shabangu has implemented drip irrigation systems on their farm.
“We used to rely on sprinklers for irrigation but we found that they consumed a lot of water and many of the crops weren’t adequately watered.
“To combat this, especially during intense heat, we switched to drip irrigation. This allows water to seep directly into the soil, ensuring more efficient watering. Currently, we’re also considering installing shade nets as the seasons change, as some crops require them to thrive.”
In 2023, they faced intense heatwaves and frequent power outages.
“Our irrigation system uses electricity to pump water from the borehole to the farm and we took a knock on those days. When there was load shedding, we could not pump water and our crops suffered in the intense heat. We lost a lot of crops due to the heat and the lack of water,” Shabangu explains.
Overcoming adversity
The farming journey of the Shabangu family has been marked by numerous challenges. The purchase of their land coincided with the onset of the Covid pandemic.
“We had to delay and slow down the process of developing the farm and planting. When the restrictions were lifted a bit, we started planting and harvesting our crops, which are spinach, beetroot, sweet potatoes, spring onion,” Tsholofelo recalls.
With the neighbourhood facing a scarcity of vegetables due to lockdowns, they began selling their produce to the local community.
However, challenges persisted. After the restrictions were lifted in 2021, Tsholofelo decided to improve her matric results from 2006 and pursue studies in agricultural sciences.
Related stories
Despite their setbacks, she remains determined. However, breaking into a male-dominated industry has been her biggest challenge.
“It seems like you have to know someone to get help from anyone. That’s been a real challenge for me. I’m just a young girl trying to run her business,” she says.
Someone even suggested she let her father run the farm because of her age and gender, a suggestion that deeply hurt her.
“That is why I am always grateful for my brother and father because they have pushed me and continue to believe in me so much,” she says.
A family affair
Her brother, Thapelo, has also been her pillar. When they started selling vegetables in the neighbourhood, he easily divided their tasks and he went to the local complexes while she sold street-by-street.
“Also, when I was struggling with something, he would come and assist me, like the deliveries which are far and I would just focus on admin.
“My dad is our guiding light, although he has taken a step back. He brings us back to focus and grounds us, and my mom is also part of the brand,” she says.
Looking ahead, Shabangu admits that she knows her journey will be marked with many more challenges. “I know it won’t be easy, but hard work pays off.”
For now, she enjoys every moment spent on the farm. “The sound of the silence, the smell of the soil mixed with the smell of the cow manure. I get there in the morning and I hear the livestock and it’s wonderful.”
READ NEXT: Moroka reaps sweet rewards with buzzworthy farming methods
Get Stories of Change: Inspirational stories from the people that feed Mzansi.
