Department donates Bonsmara cattle and goats to Bojanala farmers

MEC Desbo Mohono of Agriculture and Rural Development in the North-West
Province has handed over forty-five (45) pregnant Bonsmara cattle and two (bulls) to a
farmer Tshidi Tshwagong during the Accelerated Service Delivery Programme – Thuntsha
Lerole held in Tlhabane, Rustenburg on Friday, 15 March 2024. Tswagong’s farm is in
Boshoek area and is leased from the Royal Bafokeng Administration houses. In total
Tshwagong has a hundred and eighty (180) Bonsmaras and Brahmans on this 1400-
hectare farm.

The Department has also assisted the farmer with a 10km fence, feed, and repaired the
farm’s handling facility. Tshwagong said he plans on gradually increasing his breeding
stock up to full capacity of the farm and introducing weaner backgrounding on the farm
where weaners will be fattened to the desired live mass before being sold.

Another farmer, Khumo Mosathupa who owns Blu Agrifuxion Farm received 103
commercial boer goats for breeding. The Department assisted Khumo with 5km of fencing
material and the construction of a handling facility.

Khumo and Tshidi who both hail from the Bojanala Platinum District Municipality
commended MEC Desbo Mohono, the Departmental officials, and the Thuntsa Lerole
pioneers for their commitment to bringing services closer to the communities. “The
department’s assistance has contributed immensely to the day-to-day operations of the farm. As for the goats I am very pleased and I am expecting a number of them to give
birth in a couple weeks,” said Mosathupa.

These farmers sell their livestock to various markets across the district and province, they
have full-time employees and are receiving mentorship from like-farmers in the province.

Speaking after the handover ceremony of these livestock, MEC Desbo Mohono
commended farmers from this region for working together. “I appreciate the unity and
commitment that our farmers are portraying in ensuring that they grow together and
assisting new entrants in the sector. They should continue working together to expand
their operations by collaborating with farmers who are already exporting their produce. I
want to see all farmers supported by the Department succeed and commercialise to grow
the province’s Growth Domestic Product (GDP) and reduce unemployment by creating
employment,” stated Mohono.

Meanwhile, garden tools, seedlings, and a shade net were handed over to Raitsholetsa
Disability Centre in Tlhabane Township