Page 20 - 25 Reasons

SEEDS OF HOPE

The Kromhoek Moringa Primary Co-operative Limited in Ga-Makgato in Limpopo is a beneficiary of a R1.7 million grant from Anglo American
as part of the company’s commitment to supporting emerging businesses. The co-operative plans to plant 20 000 moringa trees, parts of which
will be supplied to a local processing company PHOTO: LUCAS LEDWABA / MUKURUKURU MEDIA

By Lucas Ledwaba farms in the area, and many others are training to learn the finer points of growing and
migrant workers. tending moringa.
he scourge of unemployment and lack of The SA National Census of 2011 recorded “We learnt a lot,” says Moshokgo, adding that
economic opportunities are harsh that there were 1 090 households in the training emphasised the importance of
Trealities faced by residents in villages like Kromhoek, which had a population of 4 255. sticking to organic means of production – one
Kromhoek (Ga-Makgato) in the remote Blou- The dependency ratio was 82.5% in a of the key drivers of the project.
berg district in Limpopo. community where 56.6% of households were Once in full-scale production, the project is
But an enterprising group of residents is headed by women. expected to create at least 80 direct jobs.
on a mission to change that through an Faced with the reality that Venetia, which has “We want to grow beyond the 20 hectares,”
ambitious agricultural project backed by Anglo created an estimated 1 500 jobs, cannot possi- says Makgato.
American’s diamond business, De Beers Group. bly employ everyone from all of the “We want to go even up to 1 000 hectares.
When it’s finally in operation, Kromhoek villages in its vicinity, Lema Makgato rallied his We want to explore other opportunities
Moringa Primary Co-operative Limited will boast fellow residents to establish the co-operative. beyond moringa.”
20 000 moringa trees on 20 hectares of land. It Young people like Makgato understand the Moringa is a drought-resistant crop that has
is expected that the project will create 100 jobs frustration of being unemployed all too well – gained popularity among farmers throughout
for every 20 hectares of moringa trees planted. he’s been unable to find a job since he Africa. It is revered for its highly nutritious
The co-operative of six women and five men completed matric. value for people and animals.
already has a five-year contract to supply the He considered taking the well-worn path Its leaves, bark and roots are used in the
leaves of the medicinal plant to a local followed by many from his village over the manufacture of cosmetics, medicine and food
processing company Botanica Natural Products. years to go and look for work in Gauteng. supplements. Studies estimate that the
Kromhoek is the beneficiary of a R1.7 million But when Willie Coetzee, who runs Botanica harnessing of moringa products has grown
grant from De Beers Group, a subsidiary of in nearby Vivo, approached the Makgato into a multimillion-dollar business.
Anglo American. The company has Traditional Authority with his idea of a Moshako Matambatshikha is hoping to tap
partnered with German development agency moringa farm, Makgato realised this was an op- into this lucrative market.
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale portunity to break the cycle of migrant She serves as the co-operative’s secretary and
Zusammenarbeit, Old Mutual and the labour and unemployment. comes from a family of seven, all of whom are
Industrial Development Corporation. “I don’t think you can get an opportunity unemployed. If the co-operative succeeds, she
Anglo American’ diamond business, De Beers such as this one in Gauteng,” says Makgato as will become the family’s breadwinner and help
Group operates one of the world’s he stands on the open, freshly cleared field that to empower her siblings.
biggest open-cast diamond mines, Venetia, in stretches as far as the eye can see. “If we look after this project ,we will
far northwestern Limpopo. The mine is the It is here that, once a water licence is reduce unemployment and crime,” says
major employer in this part of the world. The granted and the area is connected to the Matambatshikha.
area’s economy also relies largely on game electricity grid, the co-operative hopes to make “I will be able to look after my family. And
farming, agriculture and tourism. its dream a reality. the people we employ here will also be able to
An estimated 15% of Kromhoek’s residents The land was donated by the traditional look after their families,” she says.
are employed by Venetia. authority. For now, the land looks empty, but it holds
Those who are not employed by the mine One of the members of the co-operative, the dreams of an entire village, which is
work either as seasonal or full-time workers on Joyce Moshokgo, has already undergone anxious to get to work.
20 ANGLO AMERICAN 25 REASONS TO BELIEVE