AN UMBUMBULU farmer is among 86 entrepreneurs who have completed the New Venture Creation Business Management Level 4 learnership programme, equipping them with skills to grow and strengthen their businesses.

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The graduation ceremony was held at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on August 28. Mondli Shangase started Vuka Supply Farm in Umbumbulu in 2017 and has gone from strength to strength through continued mentorship provided by eThekwini Municipality. With his new qualification, he said he is ready to reshape the agricultural economy with skill, purpose, and vision.

“I started with almost nothing. The municipality’s continued support has helped me grow, and I’m grateful for this mentorship. I urge the city to keep investing in agriculture as it changes lives and creates jobs,” said Shangase.

Training for a year, the flagship programme, was a strategic partnership between eThekwini Municipality, Asime Women non-profit company, and the food and beverages manufacturing Sector Education and Training Authority. It equips youth and women with hands-on business acumen, launching them into real-world impact across the agro-processing value chain.

For many, this was a life-changing experience, and several graduates have already secured full-time employment or have launched and grown their own agribusinesses. Noluthando Nkabane, founder of Insika Farmers, left her corporate job to pursue poultry farming.

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“When I joined this programme, I had just one supplier. Today, I supply three markets across eThekwini, including a well-known established market in Isipingo, thanks to the connections I made here. This programme gave me the knowledge I needed to grow,” said Nkabane.

Delivering the keynote address during the graduation was the chairperson of eThekwini’s Economic Development and Planning Committee, Thembo Ntuli. He congratulated the 86 graduates who completed the programme from the 100 participants who started. He highlighted agriculture’s pivotal role in the economy.

“This sector contributes R127b or 2.7% to the national gross domestic product (GDP) and employs over 800 000 people. Through programmes like this, we aim to unlock further opportunities and drive inclusive growth,” said Ntuli.

He added that since adopting the Agribusiness Masterplan in 2020, the city has invested over R60m, creating over 1 200 jobs in poultry, sheep, and vegetable production. It now aims to unlock R10b in GDP and more jobs over the next decade.

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