Lindokuhle Mabaso
Nominee's Province:
Gauteng
Age:
25
Project Name/Description:
In 2022, Lindokuhle Mabaso dropped out of university when he realised that the course he was studying was the wrong fit. Today, the 25-year-old is a self-taught farmer and has won national awards for his vision and hard work into turning his parents’ backyard garden into a two-hectare working farm. The spark that changed his fortunes was being a finalist in the MTN Youth Hustle Hub and participating in their mentorship week. That exposure gave Lindokuhle the confidence and credibility to attract interested investors. “Being a finalist really helped me a lot. Financially I was able to install a 600-metre water pipe, and I also bought seeds, pesticides and working tools. “One foundation saw the work I was doing, and they offered me a car, but I told them I needed fencing instead,” he says. The determined young man says the entrepreneurship training offered by MTN helped him understand the value of marketing his business. Today he is a popular social media personality where he shares the daily happenings in his business, Mabaso Agri Solutions. His humble attitude, hard work and the joy in his produce has resonated with audiences. “Visibility matters. I post on social media every single day. I make noise about my work,” he says. Lindokuhle credits his family for a large part of his success. “My family is my backbone. Today I have six seasonal workers and 11 students working with me. I am able to support my family and encourage my siblings into the family business as well,” he says. The future may see him return to studies, and this time it will be something he is really passionate about – farming. “I trust my craft and my work. I would tell other young people they need a vision and a plan, because without that you have no action.”
