Our Story
Clearing the way for generations
Sowing Seeds since 1998
Our story does not begin in a boardroom, but in the soil. In 1998, three visionary women, Mrs. Mephi Ngcoya, Mrs. Sibongible Mkhize, and Mrs. Jabu Vezi saw potential where others saw only hardship. They gathered their neighbours and started a simple communal farming project, pooling their knowledge, labour, and hope to feed their families and generate income. They were, in the most literal sense, clearing the weeds and tilling the land for a better future.
The grasrrots initiative was registered as Thandokuhle Cooperative (the agricultural operations) and Unqobizwe Cooperative (burial society and stokvel operation). The cooperative operated for over a decade. The growth of the community initive can be attributed to its roots in principles of Ubuntu: shared work, shared harvest, and shared prosperity. In 2009, the founders decided to withdraw their participation in the communal cooperatives and started smaller cooperatives that are industry focused. This is when Chobozumhlanaga Cooperative was born.
Strengthening Our Foundation (2009)
To solidify their work and expand its impact, the founding members resolved to start smaller and indipendent cooperatives that are more family focused. To continue the legacy of community building, they resolved to establish a secondary cooperative (Phatheni Farmers Association).
Each founding memeber of Thandokuhle cooperative the embarked to register a smaller cooperative with fewer tha 10 memebers. Mr. Tholizwe Ngcoya and Mrs. Mephi Ngcoya together with 4 other members establish and formally registered Chobozumhlanga Cooperative in 2009 as the official vehicle for change kwaNgcoya.
Between 2009 and 2018 (when Mrs. Sibongile Mkhize passed on), Mrs. Mkhize, Mrs. Ngcoya, and Mrs. Vezi have registered the Phatheni Famers Association as have also helped multiple cooperatives in Richmond to register with The CIPC and connect with The Department of Afgriculture as well as The Department Economic Development, Tourism, and Environmental Affairs .
This step to operate as smaller indipendent cooperatives that have a larger structure to pool resources was a powerful act of self-determination, transforming an informal project into multiple,formally registered, sustainable and community-owned enterprises.
It was (and still is) a testament to the fact that rural women and their communities are not passive recipients of aid, but are active architects of their own economic destiny.
Gallery
Visual moments from our journey at Chobozumhlanga
The Blossoming: A Grove of Enterprises
Just as a strong tree bears diverse fruit, the success of Chobozumhlanga Cooperative has nurtured a vibrant ecosystem of social enterprises. We are proud to be the incubator and foundational root for a family of ventures, each addressing a community need while honouring our legacy:
Bonakude Agro-ecological Farm
A demonstration farm committed to sustainable, chemical-free agriculture, training the next generation of farmers and safeguarding our environment.
Earthly Q Personal Care
Creating natural, plant-based soaps and body care products, connecting the richness of our land to personal wellness.
Chilli Mate Sauces
Transforming the fiery bounty of our gardens into a range of celebrated sauces, adding value and flavour from our community to your table.
Phatheni Farmers Association
A collective that empowers local smallholder farmers with shared resources, knowledge, and market access, ensuring the original vision of communal farming continues to thrive.
Our Guiding Philosophy
Community First
Our work is for and by the community. Success is measured not just in profit, but in the health, skills, and prosperity of our people.
Respect for the Land
We are custodians, not conquerors, of the earth. Our agricultural practices are sustainable and regenerative.
Intergenerational Growth
We are building a legacy, not just a livelihood. We mentor youth and honour the wisdom of our elders.
The Future: The Ubuntu Living Lab
Today, the cooperative's legacy of "way-making" continues as the custodian of the Ubuntu Living Lab (ULL). Just as we once cleared physical land, we now clear the way for digital access, educational innovation, and new economic paradigms. The ULL is the next chapter in our story—a community-owned laboratory where we design our own future.
Chobozumhlanga Cooperative is proof that when you clear the weeds together, you don't just find a path—you build a highway for generations to come.