By Buziwe Nocuze
- Owethu Matsilela grows vegetables in Mancu village to support 15 family members since no other person at home is working.
- Owethu Matsilela pays eight workers and hires a tractor and van to deliver cabbage and potatoes to Spar and Boxer.
Owethu Matsilela is a 41-year-old farmer from Mancu village in Port St John’s. He grows cabbage, carrots, potatoes and onions to feed 15 family members.
He started farming in 2010 after he failed Grade 12. Both his parents died a long time ago.
He sells his vegetables to people in his community. He also supplies the local Spar and Boxer shops.
When he started, Matsilela used cows and carried water from the river using a wheelbarrow. Now, he farms on three hectares of family land.
He plans to use more land as his business grows.
Matsilela takes care of his siblings, nephews and nieces. He does not have his own child.
“Everything that school needs I am the one covering it because I am the only one working,” said Matsilela.
Eight of the children are still in school. They are Lingomso, Lizwiz Elam, Esam, Onesimo, Yolula, Sisonke, Sinaye and Aze.
A bag of cabbage costs R70 to R75. A bag of potatoes costs R60 to R75. People can buy a bunch of potatoes and carrots for R10.
Matsilela lets community members buy food on credit. He said they pay their debts without giving him problems.
The business faces challenges. He does not have enough pipes to get water from the river.
He also does not own a tractor or a delivery van. He pays R3,000 to hire a tractor for planting. He pays R1,600 for a van to deliver vegetables in town.
Matsilela pays eight people who work for him.
He said he spends a lot of money and would stop if he only did it for cash.
“I cannot just quit this because it is not only about me,” said Matsilela.
Pictured above: Owethu Matsilela from Mancu village in Port St John’s survives by farming and is taking care of 15 family members.
Image source: Owethu Matsilela
