December/January’s hero: Mzwakhe Thomas Sibiya
Mzwakhe Sibiya (23) is following in his father’s footsteps, working passionately with soil near Amersfoort, Mpumalanga. He was nominated by his father, Musa Sibiya, as a hero in the Grain SA/John Deere My Hero series.
Musa explains that time has changed young people’s behaviour and the respect they show. ‘One thing I can say about my son is that he respects me in a way a father expects from his son. Unlike his peers he did not seek a job but decided to follow my example and accept me as his teacher to show him how to run an agricultural business.’
During the past five years, Musa taught Mzwakhe that hard labour, long hours, and sometimes disappointment will form part of this journey. ‘Instead of demanding an education, he embraced these challenges and never complains about the hard work. Last season, he was able to produce 10 tons without my assistance, from preparing the soil to harvesting. To me that was proof that when I am no longer part of this world, my legacy will continue. I know that Mzwakhe will also pass the baton to my grandchildren.’
This proud dad shared that he has always been his own mechanic. ‘I did not realise that Mzwakhe watched me closely while I repaired my equipment. By learning from me, the Department of Agriculture recently appointed him as tractor mechanic to assist small farmers in rural areas. He has also mastered sheep herd management, which is a great passion of his. He has learnt that farming is a business and that is exactly what he is doing! Thank you, Mzwakhe, for your respect and hard work. You make me proud!’
