A small village in the North-West province proves that meaningful work can restore much more than just a livelihood. Bhavenesh Parbhu visited Delpan, where a community agricultural project is creating jobs, developing local business, and showing that the true harvest is hope, purpose, and a sense of belonging.
The author notes that South Africa is a complex place to love, as the country possesses astonishing resilience yet exhibits shocking dysfunction. Examples include world-class production alongside high unemployment. Society constantly holds onto hope but simultaneously feels persistent disappointment.
Recent events have underscored that employment has once again become a central national concern. The author suggests that there is often a misunderstanding of unemployment, reducing it to statistics, whereas the real issue is that people feel alienated.
Delpan, situated far from civilization, is four hours west of Johannesburg. Most of its approximately 5000 residents are descendants of people forcibly relocated during the apartheid era from fertile lands near the current N14 highway. In subsequent years, there has been little significant development: there are schools with broken windows, tangled streets, and rudimentary housing.
Most residents find seasonal work on surrounding farms, but this employment is inconsistent. In 2023, a partner of the Social Employment Fund (SEF), the Seriti Institute, began working in Delpan to find suitable work that would create 'common good' for the community while providing necessary skills.
After three years of experimentation, a complex Multifunctional Agro-Hub (MFAN) was established. This complex includes a greenhouse, a netting shed, a drying area, a borehole, and an inverter container. Initially, the project appeared well-planned, but colleagues from the Seriti Institute described a process of trial and error that led to its creation.
Today, MFAN, employing 150 people from the social employment fund, produces about 40 tons of produce, mainly chili, as well as spinach, onions, cabbage, and beetroot. Workers first work at MFAN and then receive training to transition to independent income sources. The high quality of the harvest secured a favorable commercial agreement with a national buyer, the profits from which are channeled back into MFAN.
Thanks to the project, the local economy of Delpan has revived. More than a dozen shops have appeared there, including supermarkets and convenience stores. Money has begun circulating in the area, and the crime rate has significantly decreased. Moreover, at least 70% of participating households are now engaged in some form of enterprise, reducing dependence on welfare.
The main product of the project is the transformation of the people themselves. Oliver Molete, the 'seedling man' of MFAN, meticulously tracks all data on investments, harvests, and sales. Before starting, he showed no interest in farming, but now his greenhouse produces 86,400 seedlings monthly, and he has found his purpose and sense of belonging.
The head of MFAN, Tiro Ramudie, experienced his family's displacement during the apartheid period. Today, he manages a 5-hectare farm with quiet authority, advising 150 workers on planting and fertilizers. He has fully 'claimed' MFAN and found his place.
The most striking example of success is Itu Itumeleng Khoza. Over two years of working at MFAN, he mastered technical skills and applied them in business. After leaving MFAN, he acquired a small plot of land where he harvested 10,500 cabbages and over 6,000 chilies. Even more impressively, Itu employs 20 local residents, becoming the second-largest employer in Delpan after MFAN.
The author concludes that people's talent was not created by MFAN, but rather the conditions for expressing existing qualities were created. Programs like the Social Employment Fund are important, but they are not a panacea, as issues of political uncertainty and funding persist. However, over four years, more than 180,000 people across the country have had the opportunity to engage in meaningful work.
Instead of asking whether such projects can solve all of South Africa's problems, one should ask if they demonstrate what is possible when people are trusted, equipped, and given meaningful work. As Alan Paton wrote, 'the tragedy is not that things are broken. The tragedy is that they are not fixed again.' In Delpan, the process of restoring what was broken is underway.
Uzasahe Mbebe, a student whose deep connection to agriculture began in Komani (Queenstown) in the Eastern Cape, learned farming basics from his grandfather, who became his first role model. This early passion led him to Winterberg Agricultural School in Fort Beaufort, where he finalized his career path in the field.
Today, as a third-year student at Fort Cox Agricultural College, pursuing a degree in agricultural business with a specialization in livestock, Mbebe applies classroom knowledge in practice. Returning home to the village of Mceula, near Welkom, he jointly manages and develops his family's cattle and mohair enterprise with his family.
Mbebe's love for the land was first awakened on family property in Bloukrans, near Komani. Observing his late maternal grandmother, Tristan November, caring for the soil and livestock made an indelible impression on him, an impression that only grew stronger over time.
Mbebe notes: 'The real turning point came in 2018 when I looked at my father's cattle. At that moment, childhood admiration turned into a clear decision, and I realized my future belonged to the land.'
In 2019, Mbebe officially launched his farming venture under the name Ummagrico (Pty) Ltd. He began working alongside his father, Zolani Mbebe, and uncles Fudukile Ndlovu, Samnkelo Ndlovu, Luhaya Ndlovu, and Zitukhele Ndlovu, all trading under this legal entity.
When he started that year, his father provided him with an initial herd of cattle to start an independent enterprise. Through disciplined management and strategic growth, Mbebe has increased this initial gift and now manages an impressive herd of over 120 head in his own name.
To turn this lifelong passion into a viable commercial career, Mbebe focused on building a strong educational foundation. Before entering higher education, he gained practical industry experience working at Number 2 Piggeries under the Fort Hare Piggery Trust. His dedication to study also led him to join the Mohair Empowerment Trust, expanding his practical knowledge of premium animal fibers.
While studying at college, Mbebe hires a full-time shepherd for the farm and returns home to conduct core care operations such as dipping, shearing, and sorting. His duties include daily herd care, checking animal health, and strategic planning.
Mbebe says: 'With our Dohne Merinos, I conduct scheduled vaccinations, parasite treatments, and monitor nutritional needs during the critical calving period.' He adds that working with the Mohair Empowerment Trust gave him invaluable practical experience in specialized fiber production.
Combining demanding academic studies with a growing agricultural business requires strict time management and a reliable support network. Mbebe explains: 'Since I cannot be in two places at once during the semester, I rely heavily on my father and uncles to manage the daily physical labor. I contribute strategically, coordinating logistics, and am fully engaged on weekends and during academic breaks.'
Mbebe has already successfully applied his college coursework on the farm, particularly regarding parasite control on communal pastures, where roundworms constantly threaten the health of the cattle. He notes: 'In my livestock and agricultural business modules, we focused on targeted herd health programs and tracking resource costs.' Instead of the traditional method of treating the entire herd of over 400 Dohne Merinos, he implemented a structured monitoring approach. This strategic shift prevents costly veterinary treatment leading to parasite resistance and does not deplete the business finances.'
'We started assessing animal condition scores and checking for signs of anemia before dosing. Applying this principle, learned in class, directly reduced our medication costs, protected herd health, and showed my family immediate financial benefit from combining modern science with traditional farming methods.'
Mbebe explains that the choice of the Dohne Merino breed was a strategic decision based on the animal's dual-purpose versatility and high adaptability. While many farmers choose between meat or premium fiber, the Dohne Merino produces high-quality fine wool alongside fast-growing lamb carcasses.
'What is even more important for our specific setup is that they are hardy, resilient animals with outstanding grazing capabilities,' says Mbebe. On communal lands where grazing resources are shared and environmental conditions can be unpredictable, this breed thrives, maintaining high fertility and low maintenance requirements.'
Looking ahead, Mbebe explains that his ultimate goal is to transform the family operation from small-scale farming into a highly structured, commercialized enterprise. 'I want to establish our setups as models of how communal lands can be efficiently used to produce wool, mohair, and premium beef,' he states.
He also plans to implement digital herd management tools to track individual performance, pedigree, and health history for every animal, which is vital for commercial growth. Furthermore, he intends to apply advanced pasture management techniques to enhance grazing efficiency on communal lands, ensuring optimal nutrition for his herd and cattle throughout the year without soil degradation. Combining these modern methods with his mohair knowledge will allow the family to maximize profit and sustainably scale the business.
At the end of a narrow, marshy road in County Donegal, life and work are intrinsically linked. This complex of buildings historically functioned as the operational center of a farm.
The architectural complex consisted of a residence flanked by a stable on one side and annexes on the other. Both humans and animals coexisted in great proximity, sharing routines and spaces.
The courtyard, which faced south, served as the main outdoor area used on the property.
Public life has been severely affected in Rajnandgaon district of Chhattisgarh due to torrential rain. The continuous rainfall over the past two days has brought joy to farmers on one hand, while increasing difficulties for working people on the other. Notably, only five millimeters of rain was recorded in the district last month, raising fears of drought.
Farmers struggling with crop concerns have received great relief from the heavy rains during the Ashadha month of the Hindu calendar. Waterlogging is visible in the fields, and the water level of the Shivnath river has also risen. This river has now started flowing over the stop wall.
Heavy rainfall has caused waterlogging problems in many parts of the city. The district hospital in Basantpur is facing the most trouble, where patients, their relatives, and health workers are facing difficulties due to water accumulation. Water has accumulated up to the knees in the hospital premises and entry routes. Furthermore, the X-ray and CT scan wards of the district hospital are also flooded, and the tehsil complex has become like an island.
Water is accumulated everywhere from Rajnandgaon Bus Stand to Thakur Pyarelal School. People are also troubled by waterlogging in the low-lying areas of Rajnandgaon city, such as Lakholi Nagar, Indiranagar, Shanti Nagar, and Shankarpur. The administration has become active regarding this situation. Municipal Commissioner Atul Vishwakarma stated that municipal corporation teams are engaged in drainage work. Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department has forecasted that rain will continue for the next few days.
