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September 2015
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GRAIN SA
Ngubengcuka Christian Moyo
Musawenkosi David Ntombela
Grain SA/ABSA Subsistence Farmer of the Year finalists
I
n 1967, Ngubengcuka Christian Moyo was born and he grew
up in the Maclear Ngqayi administrative area. He married
his wife, Moria, in 1991 and they were blessed with four chil-
dren – a girl and three boys.
He started his schooling career at Ngqayi Junior Secondary
School and completed grade 9 after which he went to Gcisa
High School in Tsolo where he completed grade 12 in 1989. He
started working for the Department of Agriculture, Forestry
and Fisheries in Mthatha from 1990 up to 2001 as a gener-
al worker, planting trees. From 2002 to 2008 he worked for
Hans Marensky as a supervisor for log markers. He left his
job when he felt that he can make a living through farming.
He grew up in a family who has always farmed on commu-
nal land and working for the Department of Agriculture also
triggered an interest in farming for him. He furthermore had
Agricultural Science at school as a subject. He started his
farming career in 2008 on communal land.
Ngubengcuka planted 2,5 ha of maize on dryland. From
the 2013/ 2014 planting season he started planting without
ploughing (no-till) and he is doing very well with this meth-
od. He believes that tractor implements destroy his lands for
future generations. He plants by hand.
1: Ngubengcuka Moyo.
2: Ngubengcuka holding his hand planter that he uses to
plant maize.
M
usawenkosi David Ntombela was born in Bergville, in the
Woodford area. He grew up in Bergville, got married in 1983 to
Nomhtandazo and they are blessed with seven children; three sons
and four daughters.
Nokulunga (35) is married and works as a teacher at a one of the
schools in Bergville; Mthokozisi (33) works for the Department of
Social Development in Newcastle; Bright-girl (30) works for Couch
manufacturers in Ladysmith; Thobile (27) completed her grade 12
at Ekwaluseni High School and currently stays with her parents;
Nontuthuko (23) completed grade 10; Nhlanhla (20) is currently
studying Business Studies at Estcourt College; and Sandile (17) is
currently in grade 11 at Ekwaluseni High School.
Ntombela started his primary education level at Bethany Primary
School and went to Okhahlamba High School where he complet-
ed grade 10 in 1974. He worked for Iscor in Newcastle from 1976
until 1998.
After he was retrenched in 1998 he decided to start farming on
1 ha communal land with vegetables that he sold to the local com-
munity. He grew up in a farming environment and sees farming as
the only way to feed his family as he is no longer employed.
He became involved with Grain SA when he joined a study group
in 2013. Ntombela planted 6 ha of maize and 1 ha dry beans.
1: David Ntombela.
2: Dry beans with maize in the background.
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Member landscape
GRAIN SA is
very proud of these finalists