Impact of ACAT in the times of COVID - July to December 2020
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PHOTO REPORT: Over 100 stories of changed lives in KwaZulu-Natal
Impact
of ACAT
in the times
of COVID
July to December 2020
Contents
ACAT’s focus is to alleviate poverty sustainably through income generation, food
security and spiritual transformation.
T his report tells over 100 stories of how group members throughout KwaZulu-Natal have achieved this during
2020. Nothing prepared us or them for the Covid wrecking ball ... and as an organization we tried to use every
small window of opportunity to ensure that as many as possible of our group members had sufficient food for the
families, and were able to continue to plant food to ensure their food security during the winter months. 269,297
seedlings were delivered since the beginning of lockdown. Our Extension Team, their Community Extension
Officers and Community Volunteers were able to quickly identify those families in severe need and help them.
Permits enabled our team to access and deliver agricultural equipment, sanitation products and seedlings. We
trained our team “on the hoof” as new information on the virus became available, and they in turn relayed the
safety protocols and information out to their groups. Our priority was to ensure our team’s safety by equipping
them to operate safely for their sakes, as well as to protect their group members. This involved a great deal of
planning and sourcing of sufficient protective gear, masks and of course sanitizer.
Sustainable food security has always been at the foundation of ACAT’s programme. We are delighted to report
that as never before, communities saw the value of being able to provide for the food needs of their families.
Group members who were skilled in food production, were able to generate extra income from their surpluses.
Business ideas flourished as people found innovative ways to earn extra income. For many, record keeping
remains a challenge, especially for those who are illiterate – and thus we are not always able to quantify the exact
Rand value of produce or profits made from enterprises. We can report that group members have undeniable
testimonies that reflect on their appreciation of being empowered with skills that enabled their households to
survive the unprecedented disruption of Covid! ACAT is busy digesting the lessons learned during 2020 in order
to improve its strategy and programme.
Impact of COVID-19 ............................................................................................................................................. 1
Emnmabithi and Loskop ............................................................................................................................... 2
eThekwini .................................................................................................................................................................. 4
Impendle ..................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Highflats......................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Izingolweni / Mzumbe ..................................................................................................................................... 8
Maphumulo................................................................................................................................................................ 9
Nquthu .......................................................................................................................................................................... 10
Mondl .............................................................................................................................................................................. 12
Mophela ........................................................................................................................................................................ 13
Nkandla......................................................................................................................................................................... 14
Ntumeni 1 and Ntuli .......................................................................................................................................... 16
Ntumeni 2 ................................................................................................................................................................... 17
Okhahlamba ............................................................................................................................................................ 18
Taylor’s Halt & Vulindlela ............................................................................................................................. 19
On behalf of the ACAT team and all our group members, thank you to the Donors who have enabled us
to empower families through food security, enterprise development and life skills! This year we have all
witnessed just how critical our work is – or as government would say – truly “an essential service”!
ACAT Photoreport for 12m 2020
Impact of COVID
T hese official statistics tell part of the Covid story, but they do not report on the excess deaths that have been
recorded in 2020. If these ‘excess deaths’ (more than 110,000) are added into the mix – and perhaps they
should be as they mirror the graph of waves of Covid infection – then a far truer reflection of the impact of
Covid is given. Judging from the reports we receive from our team members throughout KwaZulu-Natal, there
has been definitely been an under-reporting of both cases and deaths. In some areas, people attach a stigma
to being Covid positive, and this prevents care and containment. Statistics, while useful and objective, do not
adequately convey the fear, anger, grief, isolation and emotional toll that this virus has pressed into our lives
... We hold great hope that the roll out of vaccines would be efficient and reach significant numbers of South
African during 2021.
B ut despite Covid, lockdown and other significant traumas faced by our team this year, we are delighted to
report on what ACAT’s team has been able to achieve throughout 2020!
ACAT Photoreport for 12m 2020 Page | 1
eMnambithi & Loskop
Extension Co-ordinator Elmon Ndlela says:
“As we all know, 2020 has been marked by the whole world
being affected by the Corona Virus, with each country
being forced to do things differently. This year, because
of lockdown, we were not able to continue training at the
ACAT Centre as usual, and so where it was possible, we
conducted our group members’ training in the areas where
they live, in order to avoid the unsafe movement of people.
This photo was taken in the Ladysmith/ Gudlintaba area,
and shows trainees wearing their masks and ensuring
social distancing, but receiving training so that they could
get on with feeding their families, and in some cases,
generating extra income.”
Zakhele Magangane of Siyaphambili group joined ACAT’s
programme during 2020. He says:
“I joined ACAT to get more skills to produce food, and
to learn how to manage local chicken breeds. Although
I am a very new group member, I am already involved in
keeping local chicken breeds, producing different kinds of
vegetables and earning a living from my surplus production.
The chickens produce eggs to eat, and save us spending
money on buying eggs. I just love poultry, and now have
even added geese to my collection. I keep the geese for
security because they help chase away thieves at night.”
Nontokozo joined Ayanda group in
2019. She says:
“I am very pleased that I had the
opportunity of attending the ACAT
skills training course. I now implement
what I learned from ACAT, and grow
different kinds of vegetables for my
family, and sell any extra produce to
generate cash income. I have also
managed to establish a hair salon,
which is doing very well. In some
months I make a profit of R500.
ACAT’s training has taught me the
importance of not spending all the
money that I earn from my business,
but rather to save a portion of it to
grow my business and future. And so,
the profit I earn from my salon now
goes into my savings group”.
Jerry Mabaso of Okuhlenomusa
group, started with ACAT in 2014. He
was unemployed at the time, so his
main interest was to gain agricultural Sifiso Shabalala joined Izibusiso
skills. Since then, he has produced a group in 2018. He says:
variety of vegetables for his family “Before joining as a group member,
to eat, and always shares any extra my only income was from a spaza
produce with his neighbours. shop. But after joining as a group
He says: member, I started a productive
“Apart from growing vegetables, ACAT vegetable garden, and I learned how
has taught me very useful business to start keeping financial records in
skills, which have enabled me to buy my Spaza shop. Covid 19 has not
and sell snacks to generate income to discouraged me from continuing to
support my family.” put into practice all the skills I learned
from ACAT!”
ACAT Photoreport for 12m 2020 Page | 2
eMnambithi & Loskop
Ntombiningi Kunene, one of the eMnambithi Community Volunteers, joined her group during 2018. She says:
“I attended all five CV courses to develop and equip me, so that I could go back to teach my community all the skills I’ve
received from ACAT. As CVs we are a service within our communities. We visit groups, conduct area training workshops,
and motivate group members to get involved in saving and loaning to each other, in order to start their own small
businesses. I am very active in practicing what I teach others. I grow different crops and vegetables for my family and
sell any left-overs. I also cut and sell grass for thatching houses. Through the savings and loans group, I took out a loan
which I used to purchase a machine for selling pre-paid electricity. This business now earns me about R2500 monthly.”
Lindelani Khumalo says:
“In 2014 I was looking for employment but had no luck. Every morning I would
wake up to go and look for a job and, on my way, I would notice all the group
members’ gardens. Their gardens made me become interested in joining a
group. So I joined the Vukuzenzele group. Since 2014, I have never stopped
working in my garden, growing different vegetables. I now produce enough
vegetables for my family and life is better than before. I am proud to also be
contributing to the household. This year (2020) things did not go very well with
the entire world as it was affected by COVID-19. Our ACAT extension worker
encouraged us as group members to not only to grow vegetables, but to also
become members of a saving and loan group. I now plan to become an ACAT
savings and loans group member and start my own tuckshop business.”
Tholakele Zwane says:
“I have been an active member of
ACAT since 2009, and since then,
I have never gone hungry because
ACAT has taught us what we need to
know in order to run our businesses
and how to produce our food using
(inexpensive) organic methods.”
(She fills bottles to water her garden).
Mrs Mkhwanazi says:
“I joined the programme because I had to put food on the table for 6 grandchildren.
Before joining the programme, all I earned was my pension, and I quickly spent
it, buying food and other needs for my family. Now I save a lot of money as I
pick vegetables from my own garden. ACAT also gave us business ideas, and
taught us how to become more successful. Now I grow different vegetables
to feed my family, and sell any extra produce to cater for the other needs of my
grandchildren. Apart from producing vegetables, I also make sleeping mats,
which adds extra income for my family.”
Mr Mhlanga of Sinethemba group says:
“ACAT is involved in developing small scale farmers to produce their food using sustainable
agriculture methods, using locally available resources. Group members are motivated
through Extension visits, organized workshops and cross visits. I am always very keen
to attend cross visits, which provide me and other farmers, with the opportunity to learn
and share ideas on how to produce. It is so important to plan and know the best time to
prepare your land in order to get a good crop. I produce different crops and vegetables
without ploughing the soil or using chemical fertilizers. Before being part of ACAT, I used
to produce poor crops. I am very thankful to ACAT who helped me to meet other farmers
and learn good farming practices. My family really enjoys eating fresh vegetables.”
ACAT Photoreport for 12m 2020 Page | 3
eThekwini
Thombi Mbambo is an outstanding farmer and member of the Vukuzakhe group who joined the ACAT programme in
2005. She now has developed a large plot of land where she grows a variety of crops, which she sells to neighbours,
spazas and farmers. She sews pinafores and church clothes (uniforms), and uses the profit to buy household items. She
also has a poultry business. She says her success is largely due to her trust in God in everything she does!
Thembile Gwala of Siyakhula group at
Egugwini zone joined the programme
in 2019, because she loved farming,
but did not know how to plant
without using fertilizers. ACAT helped
her make a garden without using
chemicals, and now she is convinced
and happy to be able to supply her
spaza shop. She, together with her
husband love to save together. She
says: “We are very happy.”
Busisiwe Ngobese of Vezukukhanya Zandile Majola joined the programme
group at kwaJakobe zone has a in 2019, because she said the situation
garden that produces vegetables all at her home was not good as they
year round. She also teaches groups depended only on the government
to bake and sew in order to sell to the old age grants which she couldn’t
community. She joined the savings get because she is too young. When
programme, and took out a loan, two group members told her about
which she used to start a poultry the ACAT programme, she became
business. Her husband helps her run interested in joining, because it was
a successful spaza shop. about developing oneself through
“I will not stop saving because it helps learning basic life skills. From then on,
me a lot”, she says. she started collecting wooden posts
from the nearby forest to build a fence
to protect her plants from livestock.
She learned to plant vegetables,
which has helped her a lot, because
she says they can eat as much as they
want and still sell the surplus. She has
Our trainees from Egugwini zone now joined the savings club, which
sit in a ‘rondavel’ (hut) because it is has helped her to buy chickens. She
not easy for ACAT to access halls also wants to buy goats to breed and
and churches during this time of then sell to the community. She also
COVID-19. This has forced our team had an opportunity to learn sewing
to ask G5 members to allow training through Embocraft. She hopes that in
to be conducted in their homes. two to three years time, she will be a
There are no chairs, but, because of ‘real business woman’.
their enthusiasm, group members sit
Thenjiwe Mathe joined Ukukhanya on grass mats to continue with their
group in 2017. She enjoyed it so training.
much that she later joined the saving
programme. She has her own garden,
which was started by her husband
using natural materials. She says:
“We eat and sell healthy food. I
really enjoy the programme. I have a
successful business producing clay
balls that we use for whitewashing
and decorating our homes and for
sunblock that earns me R1500.”
ACAT Photoreport for 12m 2020 Page | 4
Impendle
Bongeni Mchunu, aged 73, joined ACAT as a group member in 2019 with a goal
of improving her quality of life. She says:
“I have one objective to complete before I die and that is to teach grannies
to work hard. I want to support them wherever possible. Age won’t limit me
to do what is upon my heart! I know poverty, and I refuse to let it be a cycle
in my family. I regret that its taken me so long to find people with love and
energy to help us think differently. But in my remaining years, I will do what
I was supposed to do in my youth. For me, it’s a matter of urgency! I have
established a garden, planted potatoes and fruit trees, and if all goes well, Busisiwe Ndlovu says she wants
my goal is to make my home sustainable. I started a broiler business with 50 to do something innovative with her
chickens and a goat business with 15 goats. ACAT’s training has changed my life. When she joined ACAT in 2019,
mind set, especially with regard to small scale business practices. Previously I she started thinking how she could
had goats, but I never made any money out of them. I just kept them for cultural be fruitful, and what kind of business
practices. I did not know that you can make money out of goats. Then I sold she could start to generate income to
three goats and generated R2,100! This gave me the motivation I needed to support her family. She says:
take this business seriously. It was the same with broilers. I now sell them for “Things started making sense after
R85 per chicken, and want to double my stock to 100. I really thank ACAT who attending the ACAT training. My first
have opened my eyes! Despite being old, I want to do what I can before I die!” attempt was a vegetable garden, but
then I realized that I have a skill in art,
so I started making door mats using
recycled materials such as plastic
bags, special grasses and so on. It
takes me 3 days to make a big mat
which I sell for R200. Because I have
other commitments like cleaning the
house and working in my vegetable
garden, I am able to make 5 mats per
month. The garden also earns me
some income, and my goal is make a
total of R500 every planting season. I
have also heard also that goats can
make a good business, so instead of
just looking at them, I want to start
selling them! I have also learned
about the importance of establishing
a sustainable homestead, and I want
to get there by ensuring that I have
Sandisiwe Mkhize’s mother Nomkhosi is a direct beneficiary of ACAT who planted fruit trees also.”
joined ACAT in 2008. Over the years, Nomkhosi passed on the knowledge she
gained from ACAT to her children. This influenced Sandisiwe to start her own
business raising traditional chickens. She says that there is a type of chicken
that is in great demand, and that every year she manages to sell about 60 of
these chickens, generating about R6,600. Sandisiwe recalls:
“I used to waste time just sitting at home, doing my daily activities such as
cleaning, cooking, washing and so on. But now, I have something to be proud
of, and my life has taken a different direction. I am excited about my life and
my work! I never realized that if you’re connected to the right people such as
ACAT, they give you great motivation and the encouragement you need to know
that you can make it in life. When my mother started with ACAT we children just
laughed and thought is was a waste of her time. But time has proved us wrong,
and we have apologized to her! Now I have people knocking on her gate looking
for my chickens to buy. My next step is to join the saving club, so that I can save
enough money to buy fencing material for my chicken house.”
ACAT Photoreport for 12m 2020 Page | 5
Impendle
Thulile Zondi is a Community
Volunteer (CV) who joined ACAT
in 2018. Her mother is not home
most of the time as she works in a
nearby town. So Thulile has the big
responsibility of taking care of her
siblings. She says,
“I joined ACAT to help support my
mother in putting food on the table.
The garden has made a significant
difference in supplying our family
with fresh vegetables. I am also Snethemba Mnikhathi joined ACAT
When group members implement studying by correspondence towards as a group member in 2018 and says:
what they have learned, the ACAT a bachelor’s degree with University of “I graduated from high school in
programme makes a huge impact South Africa.” 2015, and ever since then I have not
on members’ families and their Thulile is a very hard working, focused found a job, and therefore have no
communities. Soon others want to lady. She was identified to help as a CV money to further my studies. When
know how they too can make the because of her dedication and hard I heard about ACAT, I was interested
same improvement. This is part of work. Many people in the community to join in order to up-skill myself and
ACAT’s vision to “teach one who will want to join ACAT because of her help towards making our home a
also teach others to do the same”. influence. sustainable homestead. This year I
For example, Karabo Mokoena has started by planting potatoes. I want
benefited from her father being people to make it in life, so I go out of
member of ACAT since 2014. The my way to help where I can. As a result
Mokoenas have learned that ‘the the group members in my zone chose
family that works together towards me to be a community volunteer (CV).
common goals succeeds’. Karabo has And since I have worked as Volunteer
now taken over the garden activities 25 homesteads have joined ACAT.
from his father, and as a family We have also started a savings club!”
they have different responsibilities
assigned to them. Mr Mokoena says: Thandazile Mjwarah is an ACAT CV, and many people have joined ACAT because
“The love of Christ has made it of her influence in the community. She is a third generation member of ACAT
possible for our family to unite. with her granny and her mother being part of the programme. Thandazile says:
Now we can now see the difference. “Our family’s steady business making concrete blocks has enabled us to rise
Karabo a very motivated energetic above the poverty level. The money we generate from our businesses is shared
young lady. She earned R1,460 from as dividends. I have invested my share in livestock (cattle), and so far I have
the garden and from the sale of her four cows. Now I want to register with the Nguni Cattle
apples. As a family we are saving Breeders’ society of South Africa for beef production. I
our money together, with a goal of thank my parents who have worked so hard to pass on
investing in livestock. The idea is to the principles they have learned from ACAT. We all have
go commercial, but to start small!” worked very hard to get to this place.”
ACAT “bought the training to the people” of Impendle and Taylor’s Halt. Extension
Officer Brian Miyanda says:
“2020 was a very challenging year characterized by the Coronavirus pandemic.
In our global society the outbreak of infectious disease can move from big
cities to towns and villages because of connectivity, globalization, urbanization
and climate change. So the epidemic is common in our rural areas where our
target groups lives. Because of the spread and lockdown, ACAT suspended all
the training.
As the lockdown eased, ACAT decided to conduct training “in the field” or
community. Our vision and goal is for the programme participants to take
ownership of the programme. We have set up community structures to ensure
that group members receive support, while simultaneously learning to take
responsibility and ownership of their own development goals. These structures
include Community Volunteers (CVs), Zone Saving Implementing Committees
(ZSIC), and appointing Community Extension Officers (CEO) who live in the
area. These CEOs have been trained to understand their role, and here they
showcase their skills by facilitating the training of new groups using ACAT’s
Basic Life Skills Manual. Participants were very excited that the training has
come to them and the fact that all 5 members can now receive training excited
them. They showed commitment and interest as observed by the quality of the
questions they were asking.”
ACAT Photoreport for 12m 2020 Page | 6
Highflats
Nokubonga Sosibo belongs to
Sizakancane group. She makes face
masks and sells them to the local
market. Beside her sewing business,
she also sells fruit.
Thembeka Phungula from
Thandolwethu group at Mhlabashana
zone shows off the crops that she
planted with money that she borrowed
from her Savings and Loans Group.
These members of a ‘sector group’.
are involved in running a home
industry business in Dwebu zone.
Zethu Cele is a group member living
in Siphambanweni zone. She is so
proud of blocks that she bought with
her Savings and Loans Group money.
She says:
“What makes me happy is the fact
that the house that I am going to Siphile Silangwe is a very happy Community Volunteer Philile
build with these blocks will be my first member of Busisankosi group, Skhosana, trains new group
house made of blocks. All the other from Magugu zone. He planted and members. She is assisted by Thabiso
buildings at my homestead are made harvested a very good crop of maize Ndlovu (another CV) to conduct
of sticks and mud.” and beans. He says: the Basic Life Skills Course in their
“My family now enjoys a good quality area rather than at the ACAT centre
of life, and we eat a balanced diet. because of COVID-19.
I sell any surplus we have to the
community. Since I joined ACAT, we
have never gone to sleep without
food.”
These members of Siyaphambili
Savings and Loans Group count the
profit they made from their different
businesses in order to work out what
money can be loaned from their
group. Every time they meet to deposit
their savings some members borrow
money so that they can develop their
businesses. All members are involved Sandiso Nzama is a young group
with working out the profit together. member. He grows vegetables to
feed his family and for sale.
Ntombifuthi Gumede from Ndwebu
zone, stands in her potato field. She is
a new group member who joined the
ACAT programme in 2020. She has
worked very hard since joining, and
is very interested in the development
programme. She is excited because
Community Volunteer Sibongile she planted a lot of potatoes to
Nyide of Sibukwesihle group trains feed her family and plans to sell the
other group members. surplus.
ACAT Photoreport for 12m 2020 Page | 7
Izingolweni / Umzumbe
Khumbuzile Dlamini stands next to Group member Mandla Ngcobo
her orange tree. She says: admires his sweet potato crop.
“I joined the programme in 2017 after
attending an Asilimeni day. And now
I am a community volunteer! I am so
excited to see my orange tree growing
as this is the only fruit tree I have at my
homestead. What makes me happy is
that by joining ACAT, I now have new
farming technology skills. I never
thought or imagined myself having all
the skills that I now put into practice
at my home and in the community at
large. I grow and sell vegetables and
also have a spaza shop business. And Thuli Ncama of Izingolweni shows
now I have been appointed as a Zone off her sweet potato harvest and the
Facilitator!” grass for making sleeping mats. She
joined the programme in 2019, and
Community Extension Officer (CEO) was fascinated by the business part
Sibahle Mkhize carries a dish full of the programme. Before joining
of the tomatoes that she harvested ACAT she used to give her surplus to
from her vegetable garden. As a team friends and relatives. However, things
leader she lives by example, and changed after she implemented some
grows lots of crops and vegetables. of the business skills offered by the
She says: programme. She says:
“People who are not able to grow “Now I know that there is nothing for
their own crops come and purchase free! I sell my surplus to people, and
my produce in order for them to re- use the profit to produce more crops.”
sell them at a profit. I am now like
a ‘wholesale distributor’ to some
community members!”
This group is among the first of the Young ones are
groups that were trained locally under not left behind.
the new programme of area trainings Here Qobile
in Mzumbe. The group members have Malunga from
just finished their practical training, Godloza zone
where they planted some vegetable at Izingoweni is
seedlings. Thandekile Nzimande, looking after her Ntombiza Khenkebe is a hard
who is a community volunteer from vegetables. working and successful member
Dingimbiza zone, says: in the programme. She joined the
“Excitement is written on their faces. programme in 2018, and has been
They are so excited to know that they doing very well ever since becoming
planted the vegetables with their own a group member. This young lady is
hands. Some of the group members business-oriented, and in addition
admitted that it was their first time in to growing vegetables, she raises
history that they planted vegetables, chickens and eggs for sale to the
and they are so eager to see how local market. Sadly she is an orphan,
these cabbages grow until maturity.” and the head of her homestead.
These new group members went
on ‘a field trip’ to see one of the
experienced group member’s garden
in Highflats. They were taken to
this field to observe new farming
techniques. They said they were
motivated by seeing the vegetables
and crops of the older group member
and had always watched these group
members work in their gardens,
and now they were glad to learn the
‘secret of farming!’ They left feeling
optimistic to do better in their fields.
ACAT Photoreport for 12m 2020 Page | 8Maphumulo
Mkoti Mzobe, 68, joined the ACAT programme in 2011. Her situation was very
difficult after the death of her husband in 1997. She tried to raise her children
on her own without money. When she heard about ACAT, she joined the
programme so that she could learn how to sustain herself. She implemented
what she learned, and now plants vegetables to eat with her children, and then
sells any surplus. She says:
“I have benefited a lot. Now I can save some money in the savings and loans
programme. In 2018 I bought a goat with my savings, and since then, I have
bought another two. I also started to raise chickens with the aim of selling
them to the community. I hope that my goats will multiply so that I can also
sell them.”
We reported about Dorah Khanyile last
year, but because of her good work
and enthusiasm, we are following up
on her progress. She says:
“Because I am part of an ACAT group
of five, they have encouraged me to
do my best to make my agri-business
a success! In the future I want to be
financially sustained. At our monthly
meetings we meet with other group
members to encourage each other.
The money that I have earned has
helped me pay fees for my child to
study at Ongoye University.”
ACAT Photoreport for 12m 2020 Page | 9Nquthu
Sindisiwe Shabalala (of
Sizamukuzenzela group) is one of
ACAT’s Community Volunteers.
She is diligent in her work and always
motivates G5 members to participate
in the programme activities. These
photos show the projects she
Khoni Zikalala (of Sicelumusa group) is engaged in. Her success is a
says: testimony of what happens when a
“I joined ACAT because I wanted to person is involved in the Integrated
produce food. I attended the Basic Livelihoods Programme. She says,
Life Skills course at the ACAT Centre “My main aim when I joined the
where I learned about vegetable programme was to become self-
gardening and business. Now I am sufficient, and to be a successful
able to produce fresh vegetables for business woman. This has happened,
my family from my garden. I also earn and I am now able to support my
additional income by selling health family in many ways.”
and beauty products which gives me
a monthly profit of about R1300.” Mqapheleni Sikhakhane is an active New group members in the Nqutu
group member who joined the area attended the Basic Life Skills
programme 2 years ago. He belongs field training. EC Thembi Madondo
to Thulasizwe G5. He says, reported:
“Before I joined the programme I had
tried to develop a vegetable garden
but was unsuccessful because I did
not know enough. Now I produce and
sell different kinds of vegetables –
some of which we eat and the rest we
sell. Since I joined ACAT, my life has
changed greatly. My work has really
impacted my family and now they’re
more than willing to assist me in all
the activities at home. My daughter
sells our vegetables in town. I have “The CEO, ZFs and CVs were very
already used some of the profits to involved in planning, organising
buy fencing and to pay for tractor and teaching these groups. They
costs in helping us extend our land to taught on Home Food Security,
enable us to produce more.” business principles and skills, and
the importance of savings. They
got a chance to share the Word of
Hlanganisani Zikalala (of Zamokuhle God which they find interesting and
group) joined the ILP programme exciting due to its non-denominational
after he was introduced to ACAT by nature. The singing and discussions
the local CV who encouraged him help them to want to read more truth
to become a member. Since then, from the bibles donated by ACAT.
through attending the Basic Life The field training team motivates
Skills training at ACAT, he established and encourages new group members
a home garden where he is able to to learn from each other, while the
plant vegetables throughout the year. EC has the opportunity to mentor
So far he has been able to reap good field trainers as they train new group
harvests. He says, members to establish home food
“The income I earn from all my hard gardens and motivate them to start
work and from selling my vegetables Savings and Loan Groups in order
has helped me support my family in to save and borrow money for their
many different aspects of life.” business stock/operations.”
ACAT Photoreport for 12m 2020 Page | 10Nquthu
Ntombi Mdlalose joined the Inkonyane
group to improve her situation.
She now has a business selling her
products which include knitted warm
hats, jerseys and scarves; decorating
skirts, slippers, and belts with
beadwork; and making necklaces,
bangles and earrings with beads.
All these items are used on special
occasions, or hired by customers.
This G5 member is a ‘model farmer’
and her garden is used for workshops
to demonstrate that establishing a
sustainable homestead is possible.
Mr. Ndlovu of Zamukuphila joined the programme because he wanted to
improve his skills in farming and business. He says:
“Before joining ACAT I had tried to farm, but always produced poor results. My
business became a failure, as I had no management skills. Attending ACAT’s
training course opened my eyes and gave me an insight. I now have learned how
to work towards improving soil fertility by using organic manure. I also learned
how to create and improve my business. I make concrete cement blocks, and
sell matresses locally. I also sew to earn extra cash to support my family.”
Nokubonga Maphisa (of Thulasizwe
G5) joined the ACAT programme
to improve her situation. With the
encouragement and help from her Khethukthula Khumalo joined
group members and her hardworking Thulasizwe group 2 years ago.
CV, she has become motivated to As a result of participating in the
grow and sell vegetables and field programme, she now plants her own
crops. With the help of the Extension vegetables and helps other group
Co-ordinator in the area, she has found members by passing on to them the
an outlet for her vegetable sales in skills she acquired at ACAT. She is
town and at one of the schools in the also a member of a local SLG where
area. She saves monthly in a Savings she saves R50 monthly in order
and Loans Group. to improve her indigenous poultry
production project. She says:
Before joining Thulasizwe group, Lindokuhle Nkosi tried to farm by himself, but “I started raising chickens because
had little success. He says: there was such a high demand for
“Now I plant big fields of maize, and have a thriving vegetable garden in which I them. This is a very good project as it
plant spinach, cabbage, carrots, beetroot and lettuce for my family to eat. I save involves minimal costs of production
money monthly in the Savings and Loans Group in my area. Our Community but is able to generate an income.”
Volunteer in the area encourages me to work the soil to increase soil fertility
and food security. This has helped me so much because before I was trained
by ACAT, my farming knowledge was very limited and I was not able to be
successful like I am now.”
ACAT Photoreport for 12m 2020 Page | 11Mondlo
Mpendulo Nkabinde of Emawombe
zone joined ACAT after attending a
Pastors’ course in 2019. He says,
“By visiting ACAT I gained more
skills in agricultural production and
business management. Before I
joined ACAT I had no formal work, or
income, and no agricultural activities.
I always had to leave home to look
for employment. But after my visit
to ACAT, I started growing different
varieties of vegetables. My life has
improved now because I earn an
income from my crop and vegetable
sales. Because of my success, I
decided to get a larger piece of land
to grow more crops so that I was
not limited to my backyard garden. I
Awethu Nkabinde is a young girl arranged to “borrow” a one hectare
of 8 years who lives with her family piece of land from my neighbour to
at Emawombe zone. She loves to plant on a larger scale. Now I am able When Dumisani Nxumalo joined
do gardening, and her talent for to save through the saving and loans Zethembe group in 2017, the first
gardening was noticed by her granny group in my zone!” thing he did was to start his own
when Awethu helped her with the garden. Soon he was planting many
family garden. Her granny decided to varieties of vegetables and crops and
make her own garden using old car now is able to sell the harvests from
tyres (to suit her age), and that tyre his crops (especially beans), to other
garden gave them such excitement community members.
that Awethu started her own garden
where she grows spinach, potatoes Fikile Mbatha from Mvuzini zone
and other vegetables. These help joined Zethembe Group in 2017.
to feed the family. Even during the Although she lives in an area where
toughest time of the Covid lockdown, water is scarce, she has started her
she kept her small garden clean and own garden where she plants her
productive. vegetables. To sustain her garden,
she has to fetch water from the
Since Bonisiwe Sikhakhane joined river to water it. However, this effort
Isiphephela group in 2017, she has is worth it, because it enables her
really progressed as she learned to feed her family with her produce,
different skills through the ACAT and also sell the surplus to other
programme. She knows how to plant community members.
her vegetable garden to support her
family with healthy food. She has
started her broiler chicken business,
and even though she has a small area
to use, she is doing very well and is
able to earn money from the sale of
her chickens.
ACAT Photoreport for 12m 2020 Page | 12Mophela
Group member Bhekelephi Ndlovu
makes every effort to grow vegetables.
She is not hindered by the lack of
fencing material, but instead uses old
sacks and scrap material to protect
her garden from the roaming animals
which destroy her plants. She says:
“I have learned a lot, and my life has
changed since I joined the ACAT
programme. I have come out of
poverty! Now I have started saving
Jabulile Duma from Esiqongweni money in my group, which gives me Silindokuhle group in Mophela
zone, joined the ACAT programme, hope that the state of my home will receives training material from ACAT.
after seeing other G5 members’ change one day. I also accepted Jesus This material is prepared in a way
gardens which were better than hers! as Lord and my personal Saviour, and that they can easily follow it to learn
She became motivated to join a group this has made a big difference in my different skills.
after attending an area workshop on life.”
how to use sustainable practices to
produce food. She says:
“I thank this programme for the many
things that I have learned. I am now
able to have money to put aside to
do other things. Since I have been
part of this programme, my mind
has opened. I have learned to grow
vegetables and have stopped buying
them from the shops. I thank God for
everything.” Silindile Mkhize was influenced by
other G5 members to join their group.
She says:
“I learned a lot from them, even
though we were in the very bad time
of the country’s lockdown. During
Lindiwe Msomi says, lockdown, I planted and even sold
“I am a very happy new G5 member produce to my neighbours. Instead
who joined the ACAT programme at of sitting and worrying about money,
the beginning of 2020. I wanted to ACAT opened my eyes and mind to
improve my agricultural skills, and to use my hands and the piece of land I
improve my life. My garden is thriving. have, to produce food for my family”.
Fikile Hlongwa is a very hard working I use sustainable practices like
lady who joined the ACAT programme mulching, using compost and kraal Thembi Ngcobo from Esiqongweni
in 2019. She says: manure, and deep trenches to retain zone, joined the ACAT programme in
“Since I joined, I have never looked moisture. I am so thankful to God for 2020. She says:
back, and am no longer idle like before. the life changing programme of ACAT. “Although I was already trying to
My goal is to improve my family life, I sell my crops and vegetables to the grow vegetables, I never grew a
to have a good quality of life, and to community, and my life has changed good harvest, because I did not have
eat a healthy, balanced diet. My family for better. I wish my children would the knowledge. Since I joined this
enjoys my fresh vegetables, and I see this beauty, and learn that you programme, things have come up
have learned a lot about how to get can live a satisfying life if you work differently from the way they used to,
along with other people, and that my the soil.” and this brings me great joy! I am so
life must be God centred. When I get thankful to God for the work of ACAT.”
a good harvest, I sell my produce and
use my profit to buy more seedlings
to continue planting”.
ACAT Photoreport for 12m 2020 Page | 13Nkandla
Sibonga Mpungose is a youngster
who helps her mother who is a G5
member. She loves farming, and is
always available when agricultural
activities are done. She says:
“I want to become an agricultural
advisor when I finish school. I go
to Sunday school which is run by a
teacher who attended the Pastors’
Course at ACAT. I appreciate the ACAT
programme very much – because we
Buselaphi Biyela of Sinethuba G5 are knowledgeable, we are able to eat
joined the ACAT programme in order fresh nutritious vegetables whenever
to improve her quality of life. She we want to!”
started her own garden, and used
available resources to fence and
fertilize her garden. She is now the
Zone Facilitator of the area, and is
very active in all G5 activities, advising
them on agricultural, business,
spiritual and savings activities.
Although her garden is not properly
fenced, that does not stop her from
growing vegetables. Now her family
enjoys fresh food from her garden.
She saves R100 monthly into the
Savings and Loans Group, and
intends to buy household necessities
when the dividends are paid out.
Shodengani Xulu of Bakhuthase
group joined the ACAT programme
Thembi Ngema of Zikhulise group because she wanted to acquire the
joined her group because she wanted skills of farming. She is a member of
to learn more about farming. Now the local Savings and Loans Group
she grows a big fields of maize. She and saves R100 monthly. She wants
says: to improve her homestead with her
“Before I joined, I had tried to do savings. Her work has impacted her
farming, but had no training in soil family, and now they help her in her
fertility. Now I really want to be a fields. During her spare time, she
successful farmer who supplies makes grass mats as a business to
shops with my crops and vegetables!” generate income.
Nontokozo joined Intobeko group after having been influenced by the CV and
other G5 members. She says:
“The ACAT programme helped me to become equipped with agricultural and
business skills. I now grow different types of crops and vegetables (maize,
beans, cabbage, carrots, spinach and green pepper). I always have fresh
vegetables for my family to eat, and sell the surplus for income. My family
has seen the fruit of my hard work because they have seen the benefit of the
projects. I have a tuckshop, and a broiler production business, which makes a
profit of approximately R1600 each month. Now I have been able to extend my
house using concrete cement blocks because of my improved situation!
I am also motivating the youth in my area to start their own small businesses
instead of trying to find formal employment.”
ACAT Photoreport for 12m 2020 Page | 14Ntumeni 1 & Ntuli Ward
Extension Officer Lindiwe Mndlovu says:
“We met Princess Khumalo in 2015. She already had the
skill of sewing clothes, but her business was not active Hloniphile Ntuli joined ACAT in 2016. She then started
because her customers were used to buying on credit, and a very small garden. Soon she became a Community
then failed to pay her, which led her business to fail. After Volunteer, and now she is a Zone Facilitator. This year
receiving training from ACAT, she was able to re-start her she decided to extend her garden and was able to fence it
business of making different types of aprons, hats, jackets, to stop the animals from eating her vegetables.
church uniforms, etc. She also has developed a business
selling broilers to the community. She is teachable, and
once you advise her, she just implements what she has
learned. She also has a good garden and plants different
types of potatoes, beans, vegetables, and maize. ACAT
has helped her to improve in her spiritual life even during
the very difficult time when her child was shot dead at
the university. She stood strong in the Lord, even though
she is left with just one child and a grandchild. She saves
monthly in a Savings and Loans Group. Her savings group
had a total of R52,000 of interest for dividends. As a saving
group, they were so happy to get this sum of money and it
motivated them to save even more.”
Nomsa Xulu joined ACAT in 2018 and soon after attended
the Basic Life Skills course at the ACAT Centre. She When Ngenzeni Nxumalo joined ACAT in 2015 she had no
came back and started a small garden. But after her garden, and no idea how to start one. She says:
first harvest, she realised that she needed to enlarge her “After joining I learned a lot. I joined a savings groups
garden. Now she grows a variety of vegetables and crops which changed my life. I started buying sheep and goats,
for her family and for sale. Her family enjoys an improved and planted fruit trees. This year I borrowed money from
quality of life. They no longer buy vegetables from town. the savings group to buy building material and built a
Nomsa then joined a savings group, and after 6 months house (rondavel). My life has completely changed.”
borrowed money, and bought a goat and a calf with the
aim of growing and selling them. She also borrowed
money to build a house, and is now living in a stable
house.
Margret Luthuli says she joined ACAT in 2015 to improve
her situation. She now grows crops and vegetables and
sells any surplus. With the profits she earns, she has
been able to join the local Savings and Loans Group to
supplement income. She says:
“Before I joined the ACAT programme, I was very poor.
My husband died a long time ago and left me with two
children. Since I joined ACAT my life has really changed.”
ACAT Photoreport for 12m 2020 Page | 15Ntumeni 1 & Ntuli Ward
After attending the Pastors’ course, Pastor Ndlovu started different types of business – rearing free range chickens,
goats, and cattle, and growing vegetables. All his work is going well and he is successful. He has planted a variety of fruit
trees by his house, and bought a tractor and has established a business using it within the community. He also supplies
building blocks, sand, and transports sugarcane. Pastor Ndlovu says:
“I thank God for blessing me and my family through ACAT. However I have diabetes, and this is affecting my business
negatively.”
Extension Officer Lindiwe Mndlovu says:
“Eunice Magwaza is a born again Christian. She got married in 1974, but she
had to contend with gender violence. Her husband ended up having four wives,
and life became more sour than before. The amazing thing with Eunice is that
she continued to love the Lord, even though life was difficult for her. One of the
wives was a traditional healer which made for more confusion in the family and
violence. When Eunice joined ACAT she couldn’t do anything because no one
could motivate her. However, after attending workshops, she gained interest
in planting different food like maize, beans, pumpkins and madumbe which
she now sells to the community. With the income she earns, she also collects
plastic and makes plastic mats for sale. She has served as a Sunday school
teacher for many years and she is so helpful within her church because she
helps other teachers compose new Sunday school songs. As a Community
Volunteer, she encourages other G5 members to work hard in order to come
out of poverty.”
Zenande’s love of growing vegetables Nomsa Biyela has been a successful
began when she went to ACAT for small farmer and her agri-business is
training, and was given seeds to plant doing very well. She plants different
in her own garden. She now grows types of fruit and vegetables, and
different types of vegetables and has specialized in the production of
fruit. Her younger sister helps her tomatoes and onions. She supplies
water the garden. She says, tomatoes in crates to hawkers. She
“Our goal is to plant lots of fruit and also supplies schools with 3 pockets
vegetables so that we can sell them of 7kg of tomatoes per week. She says:
to our nearby community”. “I see an improvement in my life
and in my home. I used to take time
Nombuso Ndzimande always looks to water my garden, but now I use a
out for new opportunities and thinks sprinkler for irrigation. I am looking
of new ideas. After she joined ACAT, forward to buying more sprinklers,
she started her own vegetable so that I can save time irrigating it
garden. Over time she has improved because my garden is big. All in all,
in her skills, and now no longer buys I want to thank God for the amazing
seedlings, but produces her own in work I have produced this year.”
seedbeds. This season she produced
a good harvest of onions. Thembile Shange is a successful
business woman who is confident in
what she does, and believes in herself.
She works very hard and is always
eager to learn more. She is good
at growing crops, vegetables and
different types of fruit. Her business
is very successful and she has many
customers. She sells her produce
house-to-house, and supplies 3 local
schools with cabbages. She also
provides local learners with Wi-fi to
help them do their studies.
ACAT Photoreport for 12m 2020 Page | 16Ntumeni 2
Sbongile Shandu is a hard
working woman. Before joining the
programme, she worked in town, but
as she advanced in years, she was
forced to stay home. Then she learned
about the programme, and joined as
a G5 member, where she learned to
grow vegetables and crops to earn a
living. She saw that there were many
people in need of training, so she
trained as a Community Volunteer,
and completed the full course. This
year she bought 40 bags of potato
seeds and ploughed one hectare of
land. She planted 20 bags of potato
seeds, the sold the other 20 bags
making a total profit of R4000. She
harvested more than 200 bags and
Selinah Nxumalo joined the sold @ R50 per bag which gave her
programme in 2018 after hearing a sum of R10,000 from her harvest.
from other G5 members that ACAT is She says she is so thankful to God
making a big difference in their lives. who brought ACAT into her life.
She says:
“Since I have land next to my house, Phendukile Buthelezi joined the
I started growing vegetables to programme in 2011, but it was only
improve my family’s health. I also in the hardship of 2020 that she
grow fruit trees and raise broiler saw the real benefit of generating
chickens as my business. I use the an income through her garden and
chicken manure to benefit my garden baking business. She bakes fat cakes
and fruit trees, and I save money by and meat pies daily, and earns at least
growing my own vegetables and fruit. R50 profit per day. She also sells
I have joined the savings and loan chips, which amounts to R1400 per
programme to encourage me to save month. She saves R100 monthly and
and to get loans to improve my home says that this SLG group has become
and expand my business.” a life-changing activity, because there
is now that money she can borrow
and pay back with less pressure than
borrowing from loan sharks.
Nozizwe Christinah Khumalo joined the programme
in 2010. She says,
“My situation before joining was hopeless. We live
in a deep rural area, away from town, where there
is no available water source. Once we as a group
applied what we were taught, I observed the start
of new gardens starting all around in our area. We
organized a place to plant crops. Now we all grow
vegetables, beans and fruit trees, and save money
from the sale of our produce. We have now started
a Savings and Loans group and at the end of 2020,
we received a dividend of R8000. I try to save R500
monthly because I want to build a house.”
Thandie Chili is the founder member of ACAT in the Kwamfana zone. She
completed all the Community Volunteer Courses, and she is a very active,
multitasking older lady. She also has a good understanding of the importance
of a healthy diet due to her surviving breast cancer. She is a good teacher,
and many new zones are starting due to her input in Ntumeni 2. She is called
Dokotela (Doctor). Land is her limiting factor, but that does not stop her from
growing vegetables. She is training a young boy to work on some borrowed land.
She is a very creative lady and makes beaded table mats, and other traditional
attire for sale and for hire. Due to her ability to teach well, the savings group she
started is doing very well, and as a result R20,000 in dividends was distributed
this year, with an average dividend of R6,000 per member. Her example has
encouraged many zones to start saving.
ACAT Photoreport for 12m 2020 Page | 17Okhahlamba
MaNkosi (23) from Mahlutshini zone joined the ACAT programme
in 2015. She was influenced by other G5 members who were in the
ACAT programme. She started by attending area training on how
to plant crops and vegetables in a proper way, using sustainable
practices. She says:
“Before joining ACAT I used to buy vegetables to sell, but now I
plant my own vegetables and sell any surplus to my neighbours,
which earns me about R500 weekly. This gives me about R200
to save each month in her Savings and Loans Group. I want to
improve my house. My life was not good at all before joining ACAT,
but now I am much better.”
Zama Lamula (25) joined the ACAT Bakhethile Dladla from Mhlutshini
programme in 2014. Now her entire zone, joined Izinkonjane group in
family benefits from her produce. She 2014 because she had seen how
says: attractive her neighbours’ gardens
“I love gardening very much. I save in were. She has now joined the Savings
a Savings and Loans Group and in a and Loans Group, and it is going well.
Stokvel. I save R200 monthly with the She has saved R6,700 by saving R250
aim of improving my business. I have monthly. She has a garden and a field
a clothing business and tuckshop and where she grows maize, pumpkins
I am achieving my dream of becoming Nonkanyiso Hadebe joined ACAT after and beans. She says:
a successful business woman.” seeing that her neighbours were doing “In the future I would like to become
so well. Now she grows a variety of a successful farmer and train others.
crops and vegetables. She says: I love to encourage others who have
“I am so thankful for having joined the not yet joined the ACAT programme to
Savings and Loans Group. I now save join in order to come out of the cycle
monthly and have managed to save of poverty.”
R2000 so far. I have also purchased
a stove, fridge and many more small
items for my home from my savings.”
Nomasikisi Buthelezi has been in the
programme for many years. Since she
joined the ACAT programme her life
has improved, as well as her health. ACAT CEO Thakasile Hadebe teaches
She says: group members by her example.
“Before joining, the situation at my Due to COVID-19, most of the Basic These picture show her hard work in
home was very bad because my Life Skills training was done in the her homestead. She has been involved
husband was unemployed. I realized areas. Here two groups meet for in ACAT training and developing
that I should do something so I went training at one of the G5 member’s others in the community. She says:
to a gardening workshop. I came back homestead. They learned how to “I have my own vegetable garden,
motivated and started to produce increase soil fertility by making orchard, nursery, tunnel and fields
enough vegetables for my family. compost, deep trenches, mulch, and where I plant beans and maize. I sell
Now I have big fields of maize and then planted seedlings to complete any surplus to the community. I also
potatoes, the harvest of which I sell their efforts! have chickens and goats.”
to the community. I save monthly in
Savings and Loans Group and recently
borrowed money to build a new house.”
ACAT Photoreport for 12m 2020 Page | 18You can also read
