PEACEFUL NDLOVU
Trustee
Please tell us briefly about your professional life?
I’m a sugarcane farmer that started in 2012 after inheriting 95Ha of land from my father. In 2014 I registered a company called Elamaswazi Projects that has two divisions. A logistics division has 154 000 tons that delivers to three mills, ( Maidstone Mill, Gledhow Mill and Amathikhulu Mill.) and a farming division of 83 955 tons which consists of 1680Ha. We strive ourselves as the youngest Land reform and black commercial grower in the sugarcane industry which has presented exceptional growth over the past 10 years.
We have won a couple of awards as a business. In 2014 we were awarded the youngest land reform position in the sugar industry through the DTI.
In 2021 we came second in the Standard Bank Business Awards at the National level.
These milestones have taught us to do better and grow our business to be bolder and better.
What made you accept the responsibility of being a SITFE Trustee?
I entered this industry at the age of 19 years and today I am 30 years of age so I am very vocal about youth in agriculture. The responsibility came from a drive to push students in our farming communities to further their studies into professions because of the financial position our people find themselves in. Our farm workers’ children are at a very disadvantage due to the lack of finance to further their studies.
How long have you been a SITFE Trustee?
6 years. Since 2018.
What do you hope to achieve during your tenure?
Would really like to see our students that excel in our rural areas where we grow sugarcane be given an opportunity to enter and further their studies in the tertiary/university or Technikon. This would really impact the communities we farm in. to uplift the youth and give them an opportunity in obtaining their qualification and career.
What is your take on the role of SITFE in society?
SITFE has a great role and impact in society because they have demonstrated the bridging the gap of assisting and allowing students an opportunity after matric to further their studies. The exitance of SITFE and the bursary scheme is critical for children in our farming communities to know that through this bursary you can better yourself.to a profession career that others can make reference too that there is hope for a disadvantaged student.