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By Amanda Maliba 
1 hour ago
Senekal – Mothonyana Monaheng became a farmer even though growing up on a farm in the Free State, she experienced and saw how workers, including her father, worked long hours, were abused, mistreated and at the end of the day, received a meager pay.
Years later, when it was his turn to work for the peasants, he was subjected to the same treatment.
The 55-year-old is one of the few black farmers in the small town of Senekal at the center of racial conflicts following the Sekwetje Magistrates Court appearance of Senekal Isaiah Mahlamba, 32, and Sekola Piet Matlaletsa , 44, on charges of killing farm manager Brendin Horner, 21, earlier this month.
Horner’s assassination has sparked a confrontation between members of the EFF and minority rights group AfriForum and others who argue that white farmers face “genocide” in South Africa.
Speaking to independent media amid the chaos, threats of violence and the confrontation between the “boere” and the “people,” Monaheng says he is not surprised by the turn of events and believes it has been brewing for a long time. weather.
He said he gained experience working on two different farms in four years before deciding to leave to follow his dream of building a small commercial farm in the heart of a town called Tambo in the Matsieng section.
“I remember he used to tell the owner I once worked for never to insult me like he did to others because he knew he couldn’t accept it. When I left, things got really bad for those who stayed. But they couldn’t do anything about it because they needed the money. I needed the money too, but I refused to accept the humiliation. So I left, ”he said, adding that he doesn’t think working conditions for farm workers will improve anytime soon.
But Monaheng’s vision, which is still in development, is to represent the black population within the agricultural industry and create equitable employment that helps alleviate the extreme poverty that plagues the area.
“Here, people are in situations where they cannot finish school due to financial constraints or, even if they complete their education, they cannot find employment.
“This terrible situation has created painful conditions that have forced people to continue working on farms, in unfavorable conditions.
“And even in 2020, people are still being treated like slaves, they continue to be beaten and underpaid.
“People have no choice but to continue because that’s where our food comes from. There are so many people who have been forced to stay on farms, abandoning their dreams and following their own parents because their needs supersede the options. And that’s what I didn’t want for my children and that’s why I took a risk ”.
Monaheng’s decision to pursue agriculture was in part to free herself from abuse and oppression and to follow the entrepreneurial route by growing her own crops and starting a family business for the future.
What started out as a small patch of spinach, 14 years later, expanded to include poultry farming and sheep farming, which has also earned it popularity and respect within its small community.
Looking back on her decision to venture into the unknown on her own, Monaheng recalls how that step was first greeted with skepticism by her peers who had become used to working for a “boss.” Although the beginning of his journey was rocky, he knew where his freedom lay – creating a legacy for his family for years to come.
“It began when he motivated me to approach the municipality through the land in front of my house that was full of dirt that was a combination of garbage and other things that were thrown in that space. I realized there was no serious plan for the land and after getting the go-ahead to use it, I worked the land for about two weeks clearing it until I was able to plant my spinach.
“And when I started, everyone thought I was crazy,” he laughs.
“My sanity and motives were questioned just because it was unheard of to see someone enter what was considered ‘white’ territory. Because in this area, all we’ve known are white farmers and black workers. So what was he doing thus tempting fate? Wanting to own a farm seemed crazy, ”he laughs.
The bet was made on his future, it cost him money to hire municipal trucks, various sacrifices and a plan; a plan to be recognized as one of the Free State’s most established farmers, no matter what you look like.
The challenges he has faced on his farm hinge on the lack of provision of basic services throughout the Matwabeng area and the water interruptions that have become the norm in that small location.
“We would go weeks without water and that would result in my crops dying and / or the animals becoming dehydrated. So I had to come up with several plans to supplement the water and keep my business going. Because the reality is that nobody cares about us. We are our own saviors. “
Through his production, along with the sale of all his cows, he was able to send two of his sons to college, both qualified teachers.
“And since I believe in working for one’s money and not getting anything for free, I have used my business as a space that also helps others.
“Whether it’s to empower someone by clearing a certain portion of the land for R50 or helping to plow crops, I really want to do everything I can to uplift this community that seems to have been forgotten by the very government we vote for time and time again. , the Mint.
Monaheng’s tenacity has inspired another small commercial farmer who lives next door, 81-year-old Dibe Makate, who quit his farm job in 1994 and first lived in an informal settlement for years.
“It was only years later, when I met Monaheng, that my eyes were opened to the opportunity to earn my own money, money that has been able to feed my family through the sale I make of my crops.
“This company has also liberated me. Working on the farms was never comfortable. We just continued because we felt like we had no options.
“But Monaheng’s audacity opened my eyes and now we can sell the fruits of our labor for the benefit of my family,” says Makate.
Independent Sunday
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