Thamsanqa Rabasotho (30) of Mafikeng in the North West is a young animal scientist who uses his academic knowledge to run a thriving commercial farming business. He is the founder of Thandi and Thami Trading and Projects, a business that he established and registered in his teen years. The business specialises in livestock farming including cattle, sheep and goats.
Rabasotho holds a Bachelor of Science Honours in Animal Science from the North West University and has completed a course with AGB Venture Creation that focused on managing a business. “To gain further knowledge about running a successful agricultural business, I also graduated from the 24-month Unemployed Agricultural Graduate Programme offered by the provincial department of Agriculture and Rural Development,” he said.
The programme aims to give agricultural graduates practical farming experience to enhance their skills. Thanks to the programme, Rabasotho now knows how to run a big commercial operation. “It has exposed me to different segments of farming including production, financial management and all operations of a farm,” Rabasotho explained. 
As a top achiever of the programme, he was recently awarded 30 pregnant Bonsmara cattle and one bull. This was part of the department’s Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP), which supports local farmers. “This has increased the number of cattle in my farm, and it will increase my farming profits. It also increases my chances of securing business loans and not only rely on grants when I decide to expand the business,” he said.
During the cattle handover ceremony North West Director for Rural Development Malakia Matlhabe highlighted the department’s commitment to supporting graduates. “Through the CASP, the department supports a minimum of five beneficiaries yearly. Thamsanqa is one of two beneficiaries who qualified for funding this year, with the department committing R1.5 million towards their ventures,” Matlhabe explained.
The department MEC Madoda Sambatha acknowledged the challenges faced by agricultural graduates. “Five beneficiaries [per year] is a small number compared to the vast pool of agricultural graduates we produce each year. However, with programmes like these, I am confident we are building a pipeline of commercial farmers who will uplift local communities,” said the MEC.
Rabasotho currently farms on 918 hectares of land in Ditsobotla, which Rabasotho is leasing from the department over a period of 30 years. The young farmer’s business has created two permanent jobs for locals and temporarily employs more people on a regular basis.
Rabasotho explained that he sells his herd on auctions and to livestock agents. He encourages young people who want to venture into commercial farming to exercise faith and patience as profit is not immediate. “Farming is filled with hard work, and you have to be hands on. However, when treated as a business, it has the potential to create sustainable jobs and drive economic growth,” he said.
He added that being animal scientist by profession enables him to apply skills and knowledge in taking care of the animals and running the business.
For more information about Thandi and Thami Trading and Projects:
email: Thamirabasotho@gmail.com
Facebook: Thamsanqa Rabasotho | Instagram: Thamsanqa Rabasotho
The North West Department of Department of Agriculture and Rural Development can be reached on dard.nwpg.gov.za
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