From left: Philemon Buthelezi, Sarah Makhatini, Johannes Makhatini holding the large delectable onions produced at Sidlangaye Vegetable Garden

Kusuka kwesobunxele: wu-Philemon Buthelezi, uSarah Makhatini, u-Johannes Makhatini begabisa ngo-anyanisi okhiqizwe eSidlangaye Vegetable Garden

Sidlangaye vegetable garden continues to blossom

Money earned from the Sidlangaye Vegetable Garden project is helping locals make a better living and support their families. The profits that are generated from the garden are split among the members and reinvested to assist with the running of the project.

The garden which is aptly named Sidlangaye, meaning ‘We eat by your hand’ in isiZulu, as it is a source of sustenance and nourishment for many. The project was started in 2011 by members of the community under the Ngwabe Traditional Authority. ZAC provided assistance with the initial set up and equipping of the garden including providing vegetable seedlings, the installation and equipping of a borehole to provide the garden with water, and fencing the garden.

The garden produces a wide variety of fresh produce such as tomatoes, chillies, carrots, green peppers cabbages, sweet potatoes, spinach, onions and beetroots, which are sold to local shops and the ZAC canteen.

Mr Johannes Makhatini is the Manager of the Sidlangaye Vegetable Garden and is supported by his daughter Ms Sarah Makhatini, along with four other people who work on the garden. He says that while it is not easy farming in the dry, hot conditions that are the reality of Zululand, the ongoing support provided by ZAC has been instrumental in getting the garden where it is today.

Mr Philemon Buthelezi, who is one of Mr Makhatini’s assistants, says: “I love that I am helping to feed people in the community with fresh, healthy food that is produced in the area and by local people. It’s not an easy job, but it’s one that brings me a lot of satisfaction and fulfilment.”

Ms Makhatini adds that when any issues arise, ZAC is always there to support. “We are currently in discussions with ZAC about supplying new pesticides as there is an insect that has caused damage to some of the crops recently.”

According to ZAC Projects Engineering Assistant Fakazi Mngomezulu the food purchased from the garden is very popular with staff at the mine, particularly the delicious vegetable soups that are made in the mine’s kitchen in the winter.

Moreover, he adds that helping Mr Makhatini ensure that the garden remains sustainable and successful is a long running commitment by ZAC and one he is “profoundly proud” to be a part of.

Ingadi isidlangaye iyaqhubeka nokuqhakaza

Imali etholakala engadini iSidlangaye isize abantu bendawo ukuthi baphile kangcono futhi bondle imindeni yabo. Inzuzo ekhiqizwa yile ngadi ihlukaniselwa amalungu omphakathi kuthi enye ayitshale ukuze uqhubeke umsebenzi.

Le ngadi nogama layo liyazisho njengoba iqanjwe ukuthi iSidlangaye isiza futhi yondla abaningi. Yaqalwa ngo2011 ngamalungu omphakathi asesigodini saseNgwabe. I-ZAC yabasiza ngezinto zokuqala ukulima nangembewu, ukwakhiwa nokufakelwa kwepitsi ukuze kuzochelelwa ingadi kanjalo nangokuyibiya.

Le ngadi ikhiqiza izitshalo ezinhlobonhlobo njengotamatisi, upelepele, ukherothi, u-green pepper, iklabishi, ubhatata, isipinashi, u-anyanisi no-beetroot, okudayiselwa izitolo zendawo nenkantini yase-ZAC.

UMnuz Johannes Makhatini uyiMenenja yeSidlangaye ubambisene nendodakazi yakhe uNksz Sarah Makhatini nabanye abane abasebenza engadini. Uthi nakuba kungelula ukulima indawo eyomile futhi eshisayo njengaKwaZulu kodwa ukuxhaswa abalokhu bekuthola e-ZAC kubasizile ukuthi bakhulise ingadi ize ifike lapho ikhona namhlanje.

UMnuz Philemon Buthelezi ongomunye wabasebenzisana no- Johannes uthe: “Ngiyakuthanda ukuthi ngisiza ukondla abantu bendawo ngokudla okunempilo futhi okusha nokukhiqizwa endaweni ngabantu bendawo. Akuwona umsebenzi olula kodwa ngumsebenzi ongijabulisayo kakhulu.”

U-Sarah wengeze ngokuthi uma kukhona izinkinga eziqhamukayo i-ZAC ihlale ikhona ukubeseka. “Njengamanje siyaxoxisana ne-ZAC ngokuthi isisize ngomuthi wezinambuzane ngoba kunesinambuzane esimoshe izitshalo kabi muva nje.”

Ngokusho kukaMnuz Fakazi Mngomezulu, owumSizi kaNjiniyela wemiSebenzi e-ZAC, ukudla okuvela engadini kuthandwa ngabasebenzi basemayini ikakhulukazi amasobho ezithelo aphekwa ekhishini lasemayini ebusika.

Ngaphezu kwalokho uthi ukusiza uMakhatini ukuqinisekisa ukuthi ingadi ihlale isebenza futhi iphumelela, nokuyinto i-ZAC ezibophezele kuyona futhi yena “aziqhenyayo” ngokuba yingxenye yayo.