WATCH: Former Birchleigh criminals turn their lives around through agriculture

On the corner of Gabriel and Yvette streets in Birchleigh is a large open veld. In the corner of the long brown grass is a green spot, where rows of spinach have been planted.

The small piece of land’s young farmers, dressed in blue overalls and black boots, work close-by. The four men in their 20s seem at peace as they shovel ground and tend to their plants.

It’s difficult to imagine that only five years ago these youngsters were knee-deep in a life of alcohol abuse, crime and drugs.

At one point, one was even arrested for selling weed at his high school, while another stabbed a close friend to death.

Now, the men claim they are completely clean and they have the business to prove it.

“We decided that enough was enough,” says secretary general of the group Tshepo Kgole (21).

So, the teens visited former Robben Island prisoner and Birchleigh resident Jacob ‘Jaguar’ Molefe, who helped set them on the straight and narrow. Not long after, Nosotros Agricultural Youth Co-operative was born.

“Food security is everything in the world. Without food, there is no life,” Kgole adds, which is why the group chose agriculture for rehabilitation in the first place.

Getting started wasn’t easy. According to Kgole, the group struggled to find support, especially because of their checkered past.

“Finally, the deputy minister of agriculture at the time believed in us. We received support to achieve so much more.”

The group also received a R50 000 grant from LYDA, a foundation that inspires and develops young people to discover their potential.

Nosotros grew to about 60 members who grew spinach, cabbage, tomatoes, beetroot and onions. Sadly, more than half of these members have returned to a life of crime and drugs.

All the organisation has left is eight members, four of whom Express met.

“I spend most of my time here, where I used to be on the streets,” says Keoagile Mangwathe (21), who recently graduated from Buhle Farmer’s Academy.

Together with the group, he works five days a week from 9am to 5pm. They start by planning their day before their duties start. These include cleaning, cultivating and fertilising the space. Once they’ve harvested the veggies, it is sold to local guest houses, churches, crèches and residents within the community.

Member Karabo Malete (22), who received a diploma in accountancy from the University of Johannesburg, says he believes anything is possible if you put your mind to it.

“Crime is not good at all. You’ll end up in jail, not doing anything for yourself.”

One person who avoided the prison cells and turned his life around is another Buhle Farmer’s Academy graduate, Kamogelo Nzama (22).

In 2015, he was arrested for selling weed worth R2 600 at his high school, and again for possession in 2016. With his second arrest, he realised he needed to stop. He has been clean ever since.

“I hope people can look to us and see if we were able to change our lives, they can too.”

People who would like to get involved can contact the organisation on 072 338 5498.