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20 December 2019 | Story Charlene Stanley | Photo Anja Aucamp
Sprouting Hope
Shadei Lepholletse, BSc Genetics and Physiology; Masabata Sebusi, BCom Accounting; and Tumelo Zondi, BCom Entrepreneurial Management; three of the directors of Sprout Africa, an agriculture and agri-processing company - the perceived potential of which has earned them each a place on the list of News24’s 100 Young Mandelas of the Future.

Enactus, 100 Young Mandelas of the Future, Sprout Africa, Masabata Sebusi, Shadei Lepholletse, Tumelo Zondi, and Farai Mzungu

Kovsie students’ innovative agri-processing venture is paying off. Two years ago, a seed of resolve was planted in four young UFS women. They entered the Enactus National Competition for entrepreneurship projects –and came stone last.

But instead of giving up, they re-grouped, re-evaluated their priorities, and came up with an innovative agri-processing community-upliftment concept that has earned each of them a place on News24’s list of 100 Young Mandelas of the Future.

“We asked ourselves what the big businesses out there were looking for when it came to community development. At that stage, we focused on arts and crafts and recycling. But we realised the need was for projects providing solutions around food insecurity, water management, and sustainable development,” explains Masabata Sebusi, final-year BCom Accounting student.

Masabata and her three partners, Shadei Lepholletse, Tumelo Zondi, and Farai Mzungu, are all studying in different fields. They pooled their diverse insights, knowledge, and perspectives. And Sprout Africa was born.

The company’s aim is to give people in rural communities training in modern farming techniques, equipping them with basic business skills and helping them to find an outlet for their produce. As part of the process, the women approached potential business partners – from local supermarkets to big commercial companies – to negotiate on behalf of the farmers.

This time, they seem to have struck the right nerve. Having won various grants while the concept as still an Enactus project, they have since registered Sprout Africa as a company. Various stakeholders have already shown interest to partner with them.

Their main advice to fellow entrepreneurs: Think outside the box, find innovative ways to solve problems, learn from the communities you serve, and collaborate with people who have different skills from you.

Except for Farai, who graduated earlier this year, all of them are in their final year of study. Next year, they won’t be job hunting like other new graduates. They’ll simply be stepping full time into their innovative enterprise.

An enterprise that promises to keep on sprouting and growing. And hopefully produce seeds of inspiration for other students to pick up.

News Archive

Fifth-generation member of the Steyn family registers for Law at the UFS
2010-01-21

At the registration of a fifth-generation member of the of Steyns at the Faculty of Law are, from the left: Prof. Johan Henning, Dean of the Faculty of Law, Colin Steyn Junior, first-year LLB student and Adv. Colin Steyn, Director of Public Prosecution in the Free State.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs


Colin Steyn Junior registered as a student in the five-year LLB programme in the Faculty of Law at the University of the Free State (UFS) this year. This former learner from Grey College is a member of the fifth generation of the Steyn family who will study Law at the UFS. Besides the fact that a member from each generation of the Steyn family has studied at the UFS, Colin Steyn, who later became Minister of Justice, also lectured here in the early 1900s.

Advocate Colin Steyn, Director of Public Prosecution in the Free State, who himself studied under Prof. Johan Henning, Dean of the Faculty of Law, brought his son to register at the UFS. Colin Junior, who is staying in the Agricultural Residence on the Paradys Experimental Farm, said he enjoyed Rag and that he was looking forward to student life at Kovsies. “I want to become an attorney and I want to farm part-time,” he said.

According to Prof. Henning there is no other family of which five generations studied at one faculty at this university.

“You walk into an environment where your father, brothers and other family members have studied. It feels like your own home and immediately you also feel at home. The Faculty of Law here in the heart of the Free State is an institution of excellence,” said Adv. Steyn.
 

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