Bongani Thobela of Elukwatini in Mpumalanga believes that it is important to expose entrepreneurs in rural areas to global markets so that they can explore opportunities to grow their businesses and create more jobs for locals.

He is the Managing Director of Thobela Royale Farm, a company that he established in 2012 in Elukwatini within the Gert Sibande District Municipality. It specialises in farming peaches, nectarines, and vegetables.

At the beginning of February, the company was among a group of South African fresh produce exporters who travelled to Germany to participate in the FRUIT LOGISTICA Berlin International Exhibition to promote and showcase their fresh produce potential on a global stage.

The products included pears, apples, peaches, nectarines, berries, citrus fruits, grapes, and farm-costing solution software.

Germany is one of the G20 countries with diplomatic ties to South Africa. In November 2025, South Africa will host the G20 Summit. The G20 is a forum for the world's major economies to discuss global economic and financial issues.

Thobela expressed gratitude to the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) for enabling him to market his products on a global stage.

“Because of this opportunity, I managed to network with potential buyers from overseas. I now have access to international markets. We have already obtained an export licence and have already sent samples to Germany and China,” he said.

The dtic said the main objective of granting South African companies this opportunity is for them to increase production and create more employment opportunities after securing deals to export their goods to various markets.

In this way, they will be able to contribute to increasing the country’s exports and earning the much-needed foreign revenue, which will contribute to South Africa’s economic growth.

Among other benefits that Thobela gained from the trip was understanding the international fruit markets, standards, and compliance requirements that he needs to meet to export his products.

“There are companies that have already shown interest in importing our fruit,” he added.

Thobela Royale Farm

Thobela Royale Farm occupies 100 hectares of land, but only 28 hectares are currently used for plantation. The company’s 65,000 trees produce 350 tonnes of peaches annually. These are supplied to numerous leading retail stores in South Africa, including Woolworths and Spar, as well as the Fresh Produce Market in Johannesburg.

“We currently have 40 employees, 15 of whom are permanent. Once we optimise operations, we will be able to increase employment to about 250 people, including seasonal workers,” said Thobela, who is also an Industrial Engineer by profession.

For a number of years, the department said, FRUIT LOGISTICA Berlin has been one of the few flagship national pavilions of the dtic in Europe.

“During South Africa’s last participation at FRUIT LOGISTICA, export sales at the event and in the six months after amounted to more than R400 million,” the department said.

Thobela also expressed gratitude to the Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture for helping to restore his farm following veld fires that burned it down in 2019.

“A tragedy befell us when the entire farm, with 12,000 trees, was burned down by a veld fire, and the department assisted us in rebuilding it,” he said.

During a walkabout at the South African National Pavilion at the exhibition, South African Ambassador to Germany, Stone Sizani, said: “Germany is one of South Africa’s strategic partners and is the third-largest market for South African exports, the third-largest source of overseas tourists, and a major investor and development partner.” ¥

For more information, visit www.thedtic.gov.za

Fun Fact

The G20 comprises 19 countries including: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Türkiye, United Kingdom, and United States and two regional bodies, namely the European Union and the African Union.