Being bold, positive and a forward-thinker has opened many doors for Thabo Mavundza, one of South Africa’s leading agricultural engineers.
Mavundza wears many hats, all equally important to him, he says.
Not only is he the head of agriculture Africa at Westfalia Fruit Africa, a leading multinational supplier of fresh fruit and related processed products to international markets, but he’s also the reigning president at the South African Institute for Agricultural Engineering (SAIAE).
Other roles he fulfils include being the chairperson of the Tzaneen Irrigation Board, committee member for the Engineering Council of South Africa, non-executive director at the South African Avocado Growers Association, and chairperson of the Advisory Board of Bioresources Engineering at University of KwaZulu-Natal.
Although clearly an important player in the agricultural sector, for Mavundza having his fingers in many different pies mean nothing if he is not being impactful.
“[It’s important that I] set a good example to my [children], young people [with a] similar or worse background to mine and mostly importantly, get [things] done.
“The plan is to change the world, and I am doing my part by inspiring others and creating more leaders that we desperately need,” Mavundza says.
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Leader with a drive for innovation, sustainability
Mavundza was born in Mavalani Village outside Giyani in Limpopo. He grew up with both his parents and three brothers.
“I have been raised by respectful, humble and reserved parents who lives and breath ubuntu. For the longest period, my mother has been the only women in my life. She sacrificed dreams to raise us, [and] for this I am forever indebted to her and will forever cherish women in my environment.”
Today, as Westfalia Fruit Africa’s head of agriculture Africa, Mavundza is making his parents proud in every way possible. At the fresh fruit and processed food supplier, Mavundza is responsible for the business management of all their commercial nurseries, avocado fruit production, packaging and as well as engineering services.
He describes it as fulfilling as he is able to find solutions to food security issues with the help of his team.
“I am very privileged to be a leader at a business where we are producing avocados in harmony with the environment for our customers. Innovation and sustainability are at the centre and the only approach at Westfalia Fruit.”
He also believes that this has cultivated and open doors for agricultural engineering professionals to generate innovative and sustainable solutions for all their nurseries, orchards and packhouses.
Thabo, the philanthropist
His role as president of SAIAE is to promote engineering in agriculture by creating a platform where engineers can share knowledge, mentor and coach upcoming young stars. In addition, enabling collaboration with relevant government departments, funders, private institutions and universities, both locally and international.
Mavundza describes his journey with SAIAE as exciting. This is largely because when he took the responsibility, the institute was not doing well.
“I am happy that my bold, positive and forward-looking approach has energised and brought [a] renewed approach to its council and management. We have now turned the ship around and are cruising nicely.”
The institute recently hosted its annual agricultural engineering symposium in Limpopo, where some of the country’s top agri professionals looked at ways in which the agricultural sector could be taken forward.
And of course, Mavundza could not be prouder.
“I witnessed young men and women take up the stage with enthusiasm. My heart was filled with joy and gratitude. The symposium was attended by experienced engineers from other disciplines, and they now see their place in this institute. It’s very encouraging.”
When Mavundza is not working, he can be found cooking, reading or creating change in rural communities through the Thabo Mavundza Foundation.
As its founder, he has a deep passion for rural communities and his organisation seeks to expose young people in rural areas to new opportunities and experiences.
Mavundza says his goal is to help young people dream beyond their circumstances. And through his foundation, he hopes to change rural lives one good deed after the other.
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