NUUS| NEWS
Thobo Trust launches school
vegetable garden project at Itokisetseng
Thobo Trust, the Senwes Group’s BBBEE and socio-economic partner, began work on a
school gardening project on 23 October 2018.
By Kefiloe Manthata
Senwes Journalist
N
ow, five months later, the
launch of the project was
held on 14 March 2019
at Itokisetseng Combined
School, a stone’s throw away from the
Senwes Losdoorns Silo. Senwes board
member Thabo van Zyl and his wife
Ninette were instrumental in getting the
project off the ground, offering help in
terms of labour and advice to ensure that
planting and the eventual harvest would
go off without a hitch. Through a strong
partnership between Senwes, Syngenta,
66
Omnia, Senwes Grainlink, Senwes
Equipment and Itokisetseng Combined
School, nearly 1,4 hectares of vegetables
were planted on the school grounds in
Losdoorns, in the Free State.
During the first phase of planting,
which was essentially a test phase, only
cabbage was planted to assess the
fertility of the soil. Once donations were
sourced for the provision of shade netting
to protect the garden from the harsh
Free State sun, planting was completed.
The good news is that the first phase
has been a resounding success and the
vegetables are thriving.
SENWES SCENARIO | HERFS • AUTUMN 2019
Itokisetseng learners having a blast at
the launch of the gardening project