by Thembe Khumalo

I am a person who likes to start things – conversations (if I hear anyone in the supermarket speaking Ndebele I feel compelled to join in), friendships, projects, songs, businesses, stories…. I just love the energy that comes with new beginnings. The planning and preparations, putting tools, and people and ideas together, all give me a high that is unlike anything else I have experienced.  And so of course, I tend to start a lot of things.

 

Anyone who knows me well knows that surprises upset me – even if the surprise is good. You see, I feel robbed of all the excitement of planning, which in many ways for me, is the best part. I love brainstorming and seeing something develop from a simple thought to something tangible, audible, edible. But then – I get bored. These tendencies are not all that unusual for creative people. We thrive on the energy of creation, and can, if not managed well, lose interest when processes become more mundane and repetitive. 

So how can one succeed as a creative entrepreneur?  How do you generate enough of the spark that sets ideas alight, but also maintain the discipline of doggedly doing the mundane – accounting for resources, keeping people honest, managing teams, performing preventative maintenance on your business, or building or vehicle?  Here are four tips that work for me:

1. Be inspired, not motivated

If you have ever listened to a motivational speaker – and who among us hasn’t, now that we have YouTube, Instagram and even Netflix churning out motivation by the truckload – you will know that the effects of such a talk don’t last very long. This is because of the simple truth that words don’t teach (more on this another time). Only revelation teaches. And once you are operating in the realm of revelation you are no longer motivated, but inspired. Inspiration lasts because it comes as a response deep within when something resonates with who you truly are. Find out the things that trigger your inspiration and do them often, expose yourself to those things and those people. I am inspired by beautiful stories, by big conversations with smart people, by creativity in all forms, and I find that when I immerse myself in these things often enough, I work diligently, even at tasks that would otherwise be boring. 

2. Work with purpose rather than passion

You’ve probably heard it said enough times that you should pursue your passion. Thats fine for a while, but what the passionistas didn’t tell you was that in the same way that inspiration trumps motivation, purpose trumps passion. When you are driven by purpose you have the impetus to keep going even when things are tough (or boring). Passion can run out any time, but purpose is a lifelong commitment to a certain set of values, a certain way a of being, a certain aim you have for your life. When we work with purpose, we can do hard things. This is why when we build brands, we always start with purpose. It’s one of the most powerful drivers for staying on course (even when you’re bored). 

3. Set up systems

Systems help us by making repetitive tasks less onerous.  This is a godsend for people like me who do not do well when it comes to repetitive work. By putting the task, or set of tasks, on auto you eliminate a huge chunk of the pain associated with setting up, thinking, planning and doing something over and over again. We can think of habits as automations.  (If you haven’t read James Clear’s bestselling book Atomic Habits, I urge you to get it today). Habits help us automate repetitive and/or onerous tasks. Once something is running on auto in your life, you barely have to think about it, so it doesn’t have the opportunity to bore you. 

4. Surround yourself with fabulous people and give them space to shine

If there is one prevailing truth in my life, it is that I attract the best people. At home and at work, I am surrounded by stars. And because the people in my life are fabulous, I don’t struggle to share my responsibilities with them. Delegation is often frightening when you aren’t sure if the person you are entrusting the important task to will actually do it. If you have a fabulous team then you have less to worry about. And remember – they don’t have to do the job the way you would do it. They just have to achieve the same result. This means you have to be willing to let go of your own personalised “how” and accept the possibility that someone’ else’s way might be just as good or even better than yours.

Starting things is so much fun, I can’t imagine a life in which I couldn’t from time to time treat myself to the adventure that beginnings give me. But I also value the benefits that come with experience, repetition and expertise. These things come, not form starting things, but from staying with them. And so I hope that these four tips I have shared will enable those of you who are creators to do both – start some fun things, and then see them through to completion.

CHICKENS
Lesiba Langa, Jericho, Brits, North West Province

We have just taken out our last batch of chickens and will now prepare to restock. The chicken house is undergoing general maintenance to fix the leaking roof and install new curtains.

Part of our preparations for the new batch of chickens is to clean and disinfect the house with Virukill to get rid of bacteria, viruses and fungi that build up in chicken houses. We then put down sawdust or sunflower husks as bedding and let it lie for three days before bringing in the new chicks.

We buy the Ross 308 breed from suppliers in Brits. As smallholder farmers we struggle to get day-old chicks as the better-known breeders focus more on large operations. We don’t have a stable supply at present and for our next batch we will have to find an alternative supplier.

After the chicks go into the house, they get a stress pack for three consecutive days. We then start with our 32 day vaccination programme for Newcastle disease, Gomboro and infectious bronchitis. The vaccines are administered through the drinking water where it cannot survive for longer than three hours before becoming ineffective.

We take away the water for two hours before vaccinating to build up a thirst and encourage the chicks to drink the water quickly. On day seven after the arrival of the day-old chicks, we vaccinate against Newcastle disease; on day 14 we give a combination of Newcastle and Gomboro vaccines.

We give the Newcastle vaccine again on day 21 and then on days 26 and 32 we administer the vaccine for infectious bronchitis. At this stage they are about a month old and weigh between 1.6kg and 1.9 kg. We feed a starter ration until they are 17 days old and then switch to a grower or a finisher ration, depending on availability.

The new Ranger Raptor Special Edition adds even more dramatic style to Ford’s ultimate Ranger model.

Built in limited numbers to ensure exclusivity, the new Ranger Raptor Special Edition enhances the thoroughbred truck’s commanding exterior and premium interior with the addition of several functional and styling enhancements – from eye-catching decals and red accents to the fitment of the integrated sports hoop and practical Mountain Top lockable black roller shutter.

Developed by Ford Performance as the ultimate Ranger model, the Ranger Raptor created an entirely new segment in the light commercial vehicle market when it was launched in 2019, featuring an ultra-strong chassis, bespoke suspension and tyres, and a Terrain Management System to support the thrill-seeking outdoor lifestyles of true off-road enthusiasts.

“The new Ranger Raptor Special Edition adds even more dramatic style to this trend-setting model, which remains unequalled in the popular truck segment two-and-a-half years after it was launched in South Africa,” says Doreen Mashinini, General Manager for Marketing at Ford South Africa.

“The unique exterior enhancements and cabin updates make our off-road performance truck even more distinctive and desirable, while the fitment of the roller shutter as standard significantly enhances practicality and security for our customers.”

HEAD-TURNING ROAD PRESENCE

• Choose between bold Sea Grey, Frozen White, Blue Lightning and Agate Black paint finishes.
• Twin matte black racing stripes – edged with red contrast lines – on the bonnet, roof, lower body sides, rear wings and tailgate emphasise the Ranger Raptor’s high-performance character. 
• The front tow hooks are finished in red.
• Also new to this exclusive model is the integrated black sports hoop derived from the Ranger Wildtrak, which adds further sporting flair to the Ranger Raptor’s muscular appearance.
• The addition of the lockable Mountain Top black roller shutter allows owners to secure goods safely in the load compartment. 

INSIDE THE DOUBLE CAB

• An even sportier, bespoke feel is delivered with red stitching for the steering wheel, instrument panel and door cards. 
• Standard high-grain leather seats are designed for comfort and support, whether tackling rough terrain or a smooth highway. 
• The Standard Special Edition-only Raceway Grey instrument panel adds further exclusivity.

PERFORMANCE

• The Special Edition model retains Ranger Raptor’s unique Ford Performance chassis. 
• Optimised for high-speed off-road driving where regulations and conditions allow, Ranger Raptor features a 150mm wider track and 51mm taller ride height than the standard Ranger for greater off-road capability.
• The bespoke suspension uses aluminium double wishbones at the front and a multi-link rear architecture, including specially developed FOX shock absorbers with Position Sensitive Damping that moderates damping forces in response to changing driving scenarios.
• General Grabber AT3 all-terrain tyres offer maximum grip on loose surfaces.

UNDER THE HOOD

• The Ranger Raptor Special Edition is powered by Ford’s 157kW 2.0 litre Bi-Turbo diesel engine, developing 500Nm of torque.
• It shares its responsive 10-speed automatic gearbox with the Ford Mustang sports car.
• Its unique Terrain Management System enables drivers to tackle a wide range of terrain and driving scenarios, including Baja Mode – named after the famous Baja 1000 desert rally – for optimum off-road performance.

ENQUIRIES: Visit https://www.ford.co.za/ to find your nearest dealer.

Thabitha Chauke dropped out of university in 2002 to answer what she believed was a call from her late father to work the family plot. Years of hardship followed before Thabitha built her business, Amokelani Farm, to what it is today – a thriving commercial tomato growing operation that supplies the local market as well as international buyers from Botswana and Mozambique. In 2018 her ability was recognised when she was named the top female producer in the Waterberg district and the Lephalale municipality. Peter Mashala caught up with her to find out more.

It comes as no surprise that Thabitha Chauke has had a keen interest in farming since early childhood – agriculture has been part of her family’s lifestyle for generations. As a youngster, she accompanied her father and grandfather to their sugar cane fields on the outskirts of Hlagakwena, near Lephalale in Limpopo.

“I used to help with the cane, which we sold at the informal market in the village,” recalls Thabitha. This legacy plot, now the home of her business, Amokelani Farm, is where she grows tomatoes, cabbages and watermelons. Dafris Chauke, Thabitha’s father, who worked as a driver for the Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Lephalale, carried on farming sugar cane part time after his own father passed away.

“I helped my dad until after I finished matric, when I left for university,” says Thabitha. Although she wanted to study agriculture, her mother, Maria Chauke, had other ideas. Maria saw her daughter’s high marks taking her into a career as a chartered accountant, so Thabitha enrolled for a BCom degree with the then Vista University in Mamelodi, Pretoria, in 2002.

In the middle of her first year at university her life was turned upside down when Dafris died. “I started having dreams about helping my dad on the plot. The dreams kept coming back and I couldn’t focus in class,” says Thabitha.

“I believed my dad was communicating with me to go back and work the land.” When she told her mother about the dreams, Maria insisted she finish her studies. “I tried to stay on, but in the end I gave up, packed my bags and went home without telling her,” Thabitha says.

LEARNING THE ROPES

Once home, Thabitha quickly realised the difficulties of her situation: she had no money and no experience in running a farm. On top of this, since her father’s passing, the farm had all but collapsed and was in a sad state. The only real infrastructure was a borehole that had been used to irrigate the sugar cane.

“I asked my dad’s former colleagues whether they knew about possible help I could get from the department,” recalls Thabitha.

Although she did not get financial assistance, the department did offer her educational sponsorship. This included her studies at Tompi Seleka College of Agriculture in Marble Hall, Limpopo, towards a diploma course in agricultural production and farm management, and several other short courses.

In 2008 she was invited to join a youth exchange programme on a visit to Ghana, also sponsored by the department.

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INSPIRATION FROM GHANA

The trip to Ghana had a tremendous influence on Thabitha and transformed her mindset. “Ghanaian farmers, mostly women, are at the forefront of production,” she says.

“They don’t run huge operations but are highly productive on small plots. The most important lesson I learnt was the power of working together and self-reliance. They do everything themselves without much support from their government.”

Thabitha returned highly motivated. She decided that she wasn’t going to wait for government funding to start farming. She set up a small company selling food, catering for events and subcontracting in construction projects.

“I was very fortunate that there were RDP projects going on at the time, and I managed to score some small subcontracts. Every bit of money I made I invested in the farm,” she says.

The first thing she did was to install a transformer, then she bought a new pump so that she could start planting tomatoes and green beans on her 0,5ha. Once harvested, the beans were taken to the Tshwane Fresh Produce Market.

“I made no money because of transport costs, something I hadn’t factored in. However, these were mistakes and experiences I needed,” she insists.

When she realised sending produce to Pretoria would not work, she grew butternuts on the same land and sold them locally. The butternut price plummeted that season, so her margins were low. But all his, says Thabitha, helped her understand the importance of doing market research and planning production according to supply and demand.

Meanwhile, she did not give up knocking on any doors that just might be open to helping her get the right equipment for her business. And that’s how she came to meet Malapile Chokoe, a community development practitioner at coal-mining company Exxaro in Lephalale.

At the time Exxaro was working on ideas to support young women who wanted to venture into farming as part of its corporate social investment (CSI) programme.

The Exxaro team recognised Thabitha’s passion and drive, and agreed to help her, making an initial investment of R1.1m in the project. This meant Thabitha could buy much-needed equipment like a tractor, a bakkie, and a water pump. Exxaro later topped up the support with an additional R1m and went further by securing the services of an experienced local farmer, who became Thabitha’s mentor.

The money was used to build on-farm storage, erect fences, and purchase implements, seedlings, chemicals and fertilisers. “We drilled another borehole and put in solar power to reduce my dependency on Eskom. This has cut my electricity bill from over R60 000 a year to a little less than R10 000,” says Thabitha.

Exxaro’s help enabled Thabitha to increase her production area to 13ha. Tomatoes make up to 90% of her total production and are farmed undercover.

“We grow cabbage and watermelons as additional crops on 2ha,” she explains. Her company, Amokelani Farm, now employs 13 permanent staff members who have all had technical farming training on production techniques and vegetable farming, thanks to Exxaro.

Thabitha says her tomatoes are sold to traders from Rustenburg, Mozambique and Botswana. “My clients collect from the farm and sell on to hawkers and supermarkets in their areas.” She adds, however, that the Botswana market is not too reliable because of that country’s regulations.

“Fresh produce imports are highly regulated and controlled by the Botswana government. They are allowed to import tomatoes only when there is a shortage in the country,” she explains.

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DOUBLE CROP SEASONS

Thabitha plants in February and again from July to August. “If you miss those planting dates, you are out. Lephalale is very hot. If you plant in September or October, your crop is unlikely to survive the heat.”

Land preparation starts in December, with ploughing, ripping, discing and ridging. “Inside the tunnels I don’t ridge but plant into the flat soil surface,” she says.

“I’m preparing to plant 10ha, which means I must order 130 000 tomato seedlings for a population of 13 000 plants per hectare, and I need to make the order at least five to six weeks before planting date.” Her plant spacing under the shade netting differs from that in the field.

Undercover, there is 300mm between plants in a row, whereas outside it is 600mm. “The 600mm spacing works outside because we don’t prune the trees. Under cover, we remove all the suckers,” she says. Thabitha is getting ready to plant two varieties of round and jam tomatoes for the Mozambique market.

“My clients there have pre-ordered these varieties for the next season,” she says. Before planting, Thabitha puts down 2:3:2 (nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium) fertiliser. A week after planting she applies calcium and the following week, ammonium. In Week 3 she puts down potassium and magnesium.

“We use drip irrigation, which helps us to measure and control the amount of water needed in our everyday irrigation programme,” she explains.

A plant should have at least 2 litres of water a day. So we irrigate twice a day for an hour per session.” According to Thabitha it takes three months from planting to harvest and, to be profitable, she should harvest at least 100kg from every plant in its lifespan. “A tomato tree would normally carry about 10 clusters of between eight and 10 tomatoes per cluster. It’s so important to stick to a good fertilisation programme.

“We harvest for about four months, with some of the top varieties giving almost six months of harvesting. Heat and frost are the common threats. We get temperatures of up to 40°C here.”

Thabitha says unfavourably low prices also add to the threats farmers face. “We are price takers,” she explains. When you compare our prices to retail prices, you can see we should be making more money as farmers.”

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VISION FOR THE FUTURE

Lephalale’s growth has slowed down since construction on Medupi Power Station has come to a halt, says Thabitha. This has caused the demand for locally produced food to drop. “Covid-19 has also affected us, especially because many people have lost their jobs, which has an impact on us farmers,” she adds.

Thabitha is planning to establish a training and skills development centre on her farm that offers agricultural training to people from local communities.

“I’m surrounded by other farmers here who farm the same number of hectares I do, or even more. Many of them are just subsistence farmers, growing common crops like maize, dry beans and jugo beans [ditloo, or Bambara groundnuts],” she explains.

Her vision is to train these farmers to produce fresh produce so that they can join forces and sell their products in Gauteng. And this is how people uplift communities – way to go, Thabitha!

SHEEP

Clement Gasekoma, Reivilo, North West

We have Dorper sheep that are mainly on veld. Our rainy season has already started, so we vaccinate the animals in October with Multivax-P Plus against pulpy kidney and blackleg.

We use Terramycin LA to prevent and treat heartwater, pneumonia and footrot. We are currently preparing the sheep we will be culling for the festive season’s various ceremonies and parties.

Slaughter sheep are fattened in the feedlot so that we can supply the upcoming demand. In the feedlot they get a homemade mix of yellow maize, roughage and Molatek’s Master 20 protein-energy lick. We also make certain the animals always have access to clean water.

The rest of the flock, which is grazing on veld, gets extra feed with a higher maize content – we focus especially on pregnant ewes and those with lambs. The lick is made up of Master 20 (40kg), crushed maize (40kg) and salt (7kg). It is fed out at about 250g per animal per day.