Kabelo Lekalakala
Mr. Lekalakala responded the call to ostrich farming in 2019. Growing in the farming area of Brits town in the North-West Province Mr. Lekalakala got farming inspiration from his formative years by being captivated in green fields he will be passing when going to Brits town from his dusty Bapong village. An enterprise development practitioner with 10 years’ experience, he is passionate in facilitating a positive impact i.e., turnover increase and employment creation of SMMEs he is supporting through mentorship and coaching. His professional career has afforded him a unique position and perspective to understand the prevailing challenges faced by ambitious individuals with convictions, ideas, and a desire in their different entrepreneurial pursuits.
Ostrich Farming being one of them, Kabelo is seeking a more inclusive and meaningful participation of ostrich farming in South Africa. This follows exposure in the industry since 2017 and he is highlighting socio-economic barriers to small farmers and aspiring new entrants. Kabelo Lekalakala carries a vision of bringing a new and niche service experience to the greater African continent and the world at large. One of the main reasons that led Mr. Lekalakala to enter Ostrich farming was the lack of racial diversity in this luxury niche industry. There is also little to no efforts to promote this industry for black Africans interested in farming to learn and explore different offerings to benefit the land.
The Republic of South Africa is the global leader in ostrich farming. The country controls 75% of the global market supply of the special bird. With an estimated market value of R1.7 billion ($100 million), and participation of about 500 farmers, only 2 “coloured” farmers and 2 Africans including himself are in the periphery. This also represents a menial 0.8% in black South African representation. Kabelo desires to see a change, he has a vision to transform this sector into a more open & racially inclusive farming environment, where black South Africans Ostrich farmers have the necessary and adequate infrastructure, training, financial resources, supply chain networks and retail outlets that support and facilitate market access and growth.
Kabelo has been on this journey for five years, and he has faced significant challenges as he is attempting to do the nearly impossible, he entered an industry that didn’t welcome, support, or teach him; this was a journey taken solo, with trial and error, and self-teaching. However, Kabelo is determined to make sure the young black farmers entering the Ostrich farming sector have a support system and network of fellow farmers to share information and capacity building.
He is grateful for this 40under40sa awards nomination as this affords him an opportunity and possibilities to work together with the government, industry associations and the private sector to resuscitate and grow this strategic industry. The ostrich industry has huge potential for a meaningful economic contribution i.e., quality food security, rural tourism development, and stimulation of luxury leather products manufacturing industries. This would bring value to participants in the industry and change the lives of the unemployed graduates languishing in defeat and hopelessness in their rural areas. It is only through solidarity of the aforementioned players that “conservatively” this industry could be developed to be a more inclusive R2 billion-rand industry by the year 2030.
“Who is joining him on this journey, obedient to the call!”.
Mr. Kabelo Lekalakala successfully completed his B Tech Degree in Business Administration; complemented the degree with short learning programs in financial management, strategic stakeholder management and mentorship over his 10-year enterprise development profession. This makes him a fairly seasoned enterprise development practitioner who identifies opportunities and capitalise them through stakeholders to create value and positive impact in projects he is working on.