James Mengwai is a local farmer from Mabopane IA and the founder of Botshabelo Black Farmers Development NPO. Mr Mengwai said he started farming at an early age as he grew up in an agricultural family. His grandfather was a farmer back home in Limpopo and when he moved to Gauteng, the passion of farming didn’t die down as he started his home garden to feed himself and family.
“As a community leader I started identifying unused land in the ward and talked to the ward councillor to get permission to use it for community agricultural projects and by God grace, he agreed,” he said.
He said because Botshabelo Black Farmers Development care for health of township community, the Municipality also has an obligation to respect, protect, promote and fulfil the social, Economic and environmental rights of everyone.
Today the Botshabelo Black Farmers Development has a project that does recycling and they are on a mission to make Mabopane clean with the help of the community.
Thelma Mabotja (34), a community member, said the funds that sponsor for the crops and all the working materials used at the Botshabelo Black Farmers Development project is from the community members.
“The project is growing strong as community members are very much involved in making sure the crops grow well. We dived the fruits and vegetables amongst ourselves and we sell some to local businesses,” she said.
