Born in the small town of Cala in the Eastern Cape, Masimbonge Vuma’s journey to agriculture began on his uncle’s tractor. Inspired by those early days in Ncorha village helping prepare fields, he later pursued mechanical engineering at Nelson Mandela University, where he developed critical problem-solving skills. After graduation, he returned home and co-founded an agricultural co-operative. In 2022, he launched his own agricultural business. Masimbonge, 28, is the founder of Sahaba Holdings and a training associate at Meat Naturally, which partners with communal farmers to restore degraded rangelands. His days start before sunrise and span everything from livestock care to crop inspection and machinery maintenance. He balances physical labour with planning, budgeting and administration. One of his proudest moments was receiving funding from the National Youth Development Agency to expand and diversify operations. He also has an advanced diploma in agricultural management. He believes young lead- ers must champion inclusive development, entrepreneurship and drive community-focused change. He would call on policymakers for investment in small-scale farming, youth training and rural infrastructure.
My greatest inspiration is my mother, who, despite never having formal education, made wise and calculated decisions in raising me and my siblings. She taught us the value of hard work, perseverance and education, no matter the obstacles. My mother remains a role model, and the lessons she imparted have laid the foundation for personal and professional growth.