Bab’ Themba feeds his community

Now he is one of the clinic’s best employees.Hailing from Madadeni, Section C in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal, Mr Mzizi is using his talents and generosity to feed the hungry who visit the Bez Valley Clinic.

Bab’ Themba, as he is fondly called, said on the first day he came to the clinic, he turned back before he could get help because he saw the line was too long.

“When I arrived at home my wife was unhappy with what I had done, to put it mildly. The following day I went back to the clinic. While we were sitting waiting for help, Sister Kunene announced that the clinic was looking for someone to do gardening and to help with maintaining the lawn. I raised my hand,” he said.

He began by working on a contract basis. Recently, however, his employment became permanent.

Bab’ Themba said he noticed how the land was being wasted and realised it could be used to grow food. He asked Sister Kunene for permission to begin planting food and she agreed.

He said his garden grew slowly.

“I now have spinach, cabbage, carrots and flowers in the garden. We give the vegetables to those who we can see are in need. But we sell the produce for R5 to those who can afford it so that we can buy more seeds and tools,” he said.

Currently, Bab’ Themba is using his own tools to maintain the garden at the clinic. He is trying to raise funds for more tools.

He said his garden has helped many pregnant women.

“Some come back to thank me and show me their children. The mothers tell me how my vegetables helped them while they were pregnant. Some even give their children names like Spinash because it was the only food they could eat during their pregnancy,” said Bab’ Themba.

He added that seeing a mother with a happy face after he helped with the vegetables from his garden soothed his heart.

Bab’ Themba said his love for plants started when he was young.

“I learnt it from my grandfather. He was a keen farmer. He had a lot of knowledge about different plants. This led to my love of planting different vegetables. We used to use cattle and later we used tractors for ploughing. I also worked at a local farm, doing the same thing for a long time,” he said.

He added that when he arrived in Johannesburg, he worked in different places but on weekends he would do gardens for different home owners.

“I planted flowers, pruned trees and everything that has to do with gardening,” he said.

He added that he has been working on weekends for a long time, until he recently fell from a tree and injured himself.

“I spent a few days in hospital and that affected the look of my garden at the clinic. Now that I am back, the garden will soon be in order again,” he said.

Bab’ Themba is working on his garden even though he is still using crutches.

“I am better now and I could not wait to get back to my garden. Gardening is my life. Even at home, in Newcastle, you will find me in the garden,” said Bab’ Themba.