THE TEST OF TIME

HGA is a small organisation with limited capacity but where we can have an impact we endeavour to ensure that it is sustainable. The Mphithini Co-operative was the first community group that the organisation decided to partner with after their stalwart member, Absolom Mazibuko, approached us for assistance in 2019. Through a structured, interest-free loan and hands-on mentorship, we were able to provide the leg-up that enabled them to begin producing food in their valley near the Umkomazi River. Six years later, the co-op has increased their cultivation activity to 6 Ha and have been able to provide food to the communities in the area allowing them to weather storms such as COVID-19 and the looting and unrest in 2021. Mr Mazibuko has been tireless in his efforts to maintain support for their endeavours and beyond the assistance he has been able to arrange through the Department of Agriculture, he managed to obtain support from SAPPI who kindly provided them with an irrigation scheme allowing them to start cultivating vegetables in 2025. We are inspired by the determination shown by Mr Mazibuko and the results he has achieved through this.